Operatives of the Force Intelligence Department of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) have recorded breakthroughs in the fight against banditry and illegal arms trafficking in the North Central region of Nigeria, with the arrest of key suspects and the recovery of a cache of weapons.
According to a statement issued by the Nigeria Police Force, and signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on June 21, 2025, FID-IRT operatives stormed a forest hideout at the boundary between Kardako in Nasarawa State and Yelwata in Benue State, where suspected bandits linked to the deadly Yelwata killings were camped.
The statement noted that the operation triggered a fierce gun battle, forcing the bandits to flee with gunshot wounds and two General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) were recovered from the scene.
In a separate operation on July 8, 2025, along the Lafia–Makurdi expressway in Makurdi, Benue State, the operatives apprehended a 25-year-old suspect, Abubakar Isah, in possession of three AK-47 rifles and 1,002 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition.
Investigations revealed that the weapons were being transported for distribution to armed groups terrorizing Benue communities.
Further probe led to the unmasking of a notorious arms dealer, Jacob Adikwu, operating from Abinsi in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
The arms cache was allegedly meant for one Dan Hassan, a dreaded bandit kingpin implicated in violent attacks across Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Niger, and Kwara States.
On July 12, 2025, another suspect identified as Ibrahim, alias Chelsea, was arrested and confessed to sending ₦6.5 million to Adikwu for arms procurement and vehicle modification.
He revealed that ₦6 million was for the supply of two AK-47 rifles and 2,000 rounds of live ammunition, while ₦500,000 was for modifying a Volkswagen car to conceal the weapons during transportation to Kwara State.
In a swift follow-up operation on July 16, 2025, FID-IRT operatives raided Abinsi town and apprehended Jacob Adikwu.
The team recovered three AK-47 rifles, 220 rounds of ammunition, and the modified Volkswagen vehicle from his hideout.
A subsequent operation the following day, July 17, yielded even more weapons: five additional AK-47 rifles, a rocket launcher, and 1,000 rounds of live ammunition.
Police authorities say efforts are ongoing to apprehend Dan Hassan and other criminal elements responsible for the wave of violence in Benue and neighbouring states. Those already in custody will face prosecution upon the conclusion of investigations.
