Police Dismantle Arms Syndicate Supplying Bandits In North-Central Nigeria

The Nigeria Police Force has successfully intercepted a notorious arms trafficking network accused of supplying weapons to bandits operating in Benue and other North-Central states. A major cache of deadly weapons, including a rocket launcher, AK-47 rifles, and thousands of rounds of ammunition, was recovered.

This breakthrough came through coordinated intelligence-led operations conducted by the Force Intelligence Department, Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) as part of ongoing efforts to investigate recent mass killings in Benue State.

According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, a significant milestone occurred on June 21, 2025, when operatives raided a forest hideout between Kardako (Nasarawa) and Yelwata (Benue), where a shootout with suspected bandits took place. The criminals fled with injuries, and two General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs) were recovered at the scene.

On July 8, further success was achieved when 25-year-old Abubakar Isah was apprehended along the Lafia–Makurdi expressway in Benue State. He was found in possession of three AK-47 rifles and 1,002 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition. Intelligence reports revealed the weapons were part of a shipment from a well-known arms dealer, Jacob Adikwu, based in Abinsi, Guma LGA of Benue, and were meant for a bandit kingpin known as Dan Hassan.

The investigation deepened when, on July 12, police arrested a suspect identified as Ibrahim, alias “Chelsea,” who confessed to transferring ₦6.5 million to Adikwu. The funds were for procuring and hiding weapons including two AK-47s and 2,000 rounds of ammunition using a modified Volkswagen vehicle equipped with a secret compartment.

Adikwu was apprehended in Abinsi on July 16. Officers recovered three AK-47 rifles, 220 rounds of live ammunition, and the customized vehicle. A follow-up operation the next day yielded even more weapons: five additional AK-47 rifles, one rocket launcher, and 1,000 rounds of ammunition.

Efforts are ongoing to apprehend Dan Hassan and other members of the arms network believed responsible for violent attacks across Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Niger, and Kwara States.

Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun commended the operatives for their resilience, reaffirming the Force’s commitment to rooting out armed criminality and restoring security in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive.