By Deborah Nnamdi
In a significant breakthrough in the fight against armed banditry in North-Central Nigeria, the Nigeria Police Force has dismantled a notorious arms trafficking network believed to be the main supplier of weapons to criminal gangs behind deadly attacks in Benue State and surrounding areas. The operation, conducted by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department – Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT), led to multiple arrests and the recovery of a large cache of arms and ammunition in Benue and Nasarawa States between June 21 and July 17, 2025.
The police team launched a major operation on June 21 after receiving credible intelligence about a bandit hideout in a forest straddling Kardako in Nasarawa and Yelwata in Benue State, areas linked to recent killings. A fierce gun battle ensued during the raid, forcing the bandits to flee with gunshot wounds. Two General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs) were recovered at the scene.
Another major breakthrough came on July 8, when officers intercepted 25-year-old Abubakar Isah along the Lafia–Makurdi expressway. He was found transporting three AK-47 rifles and 1,002 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition reportedly meant for bandits in Benue. Investigations traced the consignment to a well-known arms dealer, Jacob Adikwu, operating from Abinsi in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State. The weapons were allegedly intended for Dan Hassan, a wanted bandit kingpin with operations spanning Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Niger, and Kwara States.
Further intelligence led to the arrest of a suspect, Ibrahim a.k.a. Chelsea, on July 12. He reportedly confessed to paying N6.5 million to the same arms dealer for two AK-47 rifles, 2,000 rounds of live ammunition, and a specially modified vehicle compartment to smuggle the weapons into Kwara State.
The crackdown intensified with a follow-up operation on July 16, during which police operatives stormed Abinsi and arrested Jacob Adikwu. Officers recovered three AK-47 rifles, 220 rounds of ammunition, and a Volkswagen car from his residence. A subsequent search on July 17 uncovered a hidden weapons cache that included five additional AK-47 rifles, a rocket launcher, and 1,000 rounds of live ammunition.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, praised the operatives for their “doggedness and professionalism,” vowing that there would be no safe haven for those supplying arms to criminals. He reaffirmed the police’s commitment to dismantling terror networks and restoring peace in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to secure lives and end insecurity in the country.
The police confirmed that efforts are ongoing to apprehend Dan Hassan and other suspects still at large. Those already in custody will face prosecution upon the conclusion of investigations.
