In a major breakthrough against armed violence in Benue State and the wider North-Central region, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested several suspected arms dealers and recovered a cache of deadly weapons, including rocket launchers and assault rifles.
The arrests follow sustained intelligence-led operations by the Force Intelligence Department – Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) targeting the arms supply network fueling attacks in the region.
On June 21, 2025, FID-IRT operatives stormed a notorious hideout at the border of Kardako in Nasarawa State and Yelwata in Benue State, following leads linked to recent killings in Yelwata. A gun battle ensued, forcing the bandits to flee with gunshot wounds. Two General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs) were recovered from the site.
Subsequently, on July 8, 2025, a suspect identified as Abubakar Isah (25) was apprehended along the Lafia–Makurdi expressway in Benue State. He was found with three AK-47 rifles and 1,002 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition. Investigations traced the weapons to a notorious arms dealer, Jacob Adikwu, based in Abinsi, Guma Local Government Area. The arms were reportedly en route to a known criminal kingpin, Dan Hassan, linked to attacks across Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Niger, and Kwara States.
Further breakthroughs came on July 12, when another suspect, Ibrahim a.k.a. “Chelsea,” was arrested. He confessed to paying ₦6.5 million to Adikwu — ₦6 million for two AK-47 rifles and 2,000 rounds of ammunition, and ₦500,000 to modify a vehicle for smuggling the weapons into Kwara State.
On July 16, Adikwu himself was arrested in Abinsi, where police recovered three more AK-47 rifles, 220 rounds of live ammunition, and a Volkswagen car. A follow-up operation on July 17 led to the recovery of five additional AK-47 rifles, a rocket launcher, and 1,000 rounds of ammunition.
Efforts are ongoing to apprehend Dan Hassan and dismantle the broader criminal network threatening the region.
Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, praised the officers for their dedication and assured Nigerians that law enforcement will continue to track and bring perpetrators of violence to justice. He reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to national security, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to restore peace across all troubled areas.
