The long arm of the law has caught up with another deadly syndicate as the Nigeria Police Force, in a string of high-stakes operations, apprehended key arms suppliers believed to be fueling the wave of violence in Benue and surrounding states.
The operations, which spanned several weeks, led to the recovery of two General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), twelve AK-47 rifles, and a staggering 2,222 rounds of live ammunition.
A statement by the Nigerian Police said the crackdown forms part of an intensified investigation into the recent spate of attacks in Benue communities, particularly the Yelwata killings.
Acting on credible intelligence, operatives from the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) stormed a forest hideout on June 21, 2025, at the border between Kardako in Nasarawa State and Yelwata in Benue.
What ensued was a fierce gunfight that sent the armed bandits fleeing with gunshot wounds, leaving behind two GPMGs, the statement said.
Barely weeks later, on July 8, 2025, the operatives scored another breakthrough along the Lafia–Makurdi expressway in Benue State. One Abubakar Isah, aged 25, was intercepted with three AK-47 rifles and 1,002 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition.
Intelligence revealed the deadly cargo was en route to be delivered to a feared bandit kingpin, Dan Hassan, who has been on the police radar for masterminding brutal attacks across Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Niger, and Kwara States.
The statement continued that the plot thickened on July 12 when police arrested one Ibrahim, also known as “Chelsea”, who confessed to wiring ₦6.5 million to a notorious arms dealer, Jacob Adikwu. According to investigators, ₦6 million was payment for two AK-47 rifles and 2,000 rounds of ammunition, while ₦500,000 was earmarked for modifying a Volkswagen vehicle to conceal the weapons during transport to Kwara State.
Acting on the confession, police operatives launched a swift follow-up operation in Abinsi town on July 16, arresting Jacob Adikwu. From his hideout, officers recovered three AK-47 rifles, 220 rounds of live ammunition, and the modified Volkswagen car. A deeper probe the following day uncovered five more AK-47 rifles, one rocket launcher, and another 1,000 rounds of live ammunition from the same suspect.
The Nigeria Police Force says efforts are in full swing to track down Dan Hassan and other foot soldiers of terror who have left trails of sorrow and blood in their wake.
Those already in custody, the police added, will face the full weight of the law once investigations wrap up.
Commending the operatives for their grit and resilience, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, reaffirmed the Force’s zero-tolerance stance on criminality. He stressed that there would be no safe haven for those who trade in blood money and thrive on the pain of innocent Nigerians.
The IGP also reiterated the President’s directive to restore peace in affected communities, assuring citizens of the Police Force’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives and property nationwide.
