In a major breakthrough against armed violence in the North-Central region, the Nigeria Police Force has dismantled another arms trafficking syndicate responsible for supplying weapons to deadly bandit groups in Benue State and beyond.
Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the Force Intelligence Department – Intelligence Response Team, FID-IRT, conducted a series of operations across Benue and Nasarawa States, leading to the arrest of key arms dealers and the recovery of a large cache of weapons and ammunition, according to Force PRO, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
On June 21st, 2025, officers stormed a forest hideout at the boundary between Kardako in Nasarawa State and Yelwata in Benue State, where bandits involved in the Yelwata killings were believed to be hiding. After a gun battle, the criminals fled with injuries, and police recovered two General Purpose Machine Guns, or GPMGs, from the scene.
In a related operation on July 8th, police arrested a 25-year-old suspect, Abubakar Isah, along the Lafia–Makurdi expressway in possession of three AK-47 rifles and over 1,000 rounds of live ammunition. Investigations revealed the arms were supplied by a notorious dealer, Jacob Adikwu, based in Abinsi, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
Further progress came on July 12th with the arrest of another suspect, known as Ibrahim aka “Chelsea,” who admitted to sending ₦6.5 million to Adikwu — six million for weapons and ammunition, and half a million to modify a vehicle for smuggling.
In a follow-up raid on July 16th, Adikwu himself was apprehended. Police recovered more weapons from his hideout, including eight AK-47 rifles, a rocket launcher, over 2,200 rounds of ammunition, and the Volkswagen vehicle used for concealment.
The Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Egbetokun, has commended the operatives for their outstanding work and vowed that criminals who profit from bloodshed will find no safe haven. He reaffirmed the Police Force’s commitment to restoring peace and order in Benue and across Nigeria, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive on national security.
