Police operatives have intercepted and dismantled a notorious arms supply syndicate responsible for arming bandits in Benue State and other North-Central States.
Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi in a statement issued Wednesday revealed that on the 21st of June, 2025, operatives of the FID-IRT acting on credible intelligence on the activities of some bandits who participated in the Yelwata killings, stormed the hideout of the bandits in a forest at the boundary of Kardako, Nassarawa State and Yelwata in Benue State, a fierce gun duel ensued causing the bandits to flee with various degrees of gunshot injuries.
He added that two GPMG were recovered from their hideout in the process
Adejobi noted: “Similarly, On 8th July 2025, operatives of the Force Intelligence Department – Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT), in a tactical operation, along the Lafia–Makurdi expressway in Makurdi, Benue State, arrested one Abubakar Isah, aged 25, found in possession of three AK47 rifles and 1002 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition.
“The arrest followed actionable intelligence indicating an impending arms movement intended for distribution to bandits groups known to be terrorising various communities in Benue State.
“Further investigations revealed that the arms and ammunition were supplied by a notorious arms dealer, Jacob Adikwu, operating from Abinsi, Guma Local Government area of Benue State, and was to be delivered to one Dan Hassan, a bandit kingpin known for orchestrating deadly attacks against communities across Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Niger, and Kwara States.”
In another related development, Adejobi explained that on the 12th of July, 2025, FID-IRT operatives acting on credible intelligence arrested one Ibrahim, AKA Chelsea, who confessed to have sent the sum of N6.5 million to the same Adikwu Jacob.
He added: “N6 million being payment for delivery of two AK47 rifles and 2000 rounds of live ammunition, while N500,000 would serve as payment for construction of a compartment in the Volkswagen vehicle to conceal the said arms for transportation to Kwara State.
“In a swift follow-up clearance operation, the operatives stormed Abinsi town and successfully apprehended Jacob Adikwu on 16th July 2025 and recovered three AK-47 rifles, 220 rounds of live ammunition and a Volkswagen car from his hideout.”
Adejobi noted that further investigation carried out by the operatives on the 17th July, 2025 led to the recovery of additional five AK-47 rifles, one rocket launcher, and 1,000 rounds of live ammunition from the same arms dealer.
He assured that efforts are being intensified to ensure Dan Hassan and other criminal elements responsible for terrorising Benue State and other parts of the country are brought to book, while others in custody would have their day in court upon conclusion of investigation.