The Nigeria Police Force has made significant breakthroughs in its ongoing investigation into the deadly attacks by bandits in Benue State, with the arrest of several suspected arms traffickers and the recovery of a massive cache of weapons and ammunition.
According to a press release from the Force Headquarters, operatives of the Force Intelligence Department – Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) have dismantled a notorious arms supply syndicate believed to be responsible for arming bandits across Benue and other parts of the North-Central region.
On June 21, 2025, FID-IRT operatives acting on credible intelligence raided a forest hideout at the boundary between Kardako in Nasarawa State and Yelwata in Benue State. A fierce gun battle ensued as the operatives engaged the armed bandits, forcing them to flee with gunshot wounds. Two General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs) were recovered from the abandoned hideout.
Further tactical operations led to the arrest of one Abubakar Isah, aged 25, along the Lafia–Makurdi expressway in Makurdi, Benue State, on July 8, 2025. He was found in possession of three AK-47 rifles and 1,002 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition. Investigations revealed that the arms were supplied by a notorious arms dealer identified as Jacob Adikwu, operating from Abinsi, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State. The weapons were reportedly en route to Dan Hassan, a notorious bandit kingpin linked to numerous deadly attacks in Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Niger, and Kwara States.
On July 12, 2025, operatives arrested another suspect known as Ibrahim, a.k.a. Chelsea, who confessed to transferring ₦6.5 million to Adikwu for the purchase and concealment of weapons. ₦6 million was for two AK-47 rifles and 2,000 rounds of ammunition, while ₦500,000 was paid to construct a hidden compartment in a Volkswagen vehicle intended for transporting the arms to Kwara State.
Following this confession, a follow-up clearance operation led to the arrest of Jacob Adikwu on July 16, 2025, in Abinsi town. The operatives recovered three AK-47 rifles, 220 rounds of live ammunition, and the aforementioned Volkswagen car. Further investigations on July 17 led to the seizure of an additional five AK-47 rifles, one rocket launcher, and 1,000 rounds of ammunition from Adikwu’s weapons cache.
The Force says efforts are ongoing to apprehend Dan Hassan and other criminal elements behind the wave of violence plaguing communities in Benue and other affected states.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, lauded the efforts of the operatives and reaffirmed the Police Force’s resolve to eliminate criminal networks and restore peace. He assured Nigerians that the Force will leave no stone unturned in bringing perpetrators to justice.
“There will be no hiding place for those who profit from the bloodshed of innocent Nigerians,” the IGP stated. He also reiterated the commitment of the Police to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive on restoring peace and stability across the country.
All suspects in custody will be arraigned upon conclusion of investigations.
