Police Dismantle Major Arms Syndicate Supplying Bandits In North-Central States (Photos)

Operatives of the Nigeria Police have intercepted and dismantled a notorious arms trafficking syndicate allegedly responsible for supplying weapons to criminal groups operating in Benue and other parts of the North-Central region.

The Force Intelligence Department – Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) conducted a series of targeted operations, recovering a cache of weapons and arresting key individuals.

According to a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the  efforts led to multiple arrests and the recovery of a substantial cache of sophisticated arms and ammunition in Benue and Nasarawa States.

The operation resulted in a fierce gunfight, forcing the bandits to flee with injuries. Authorities recovered two General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs) from the scene.

The statement reads: "In furtherance of Police investigation on the deadly attacks by bandits on communities in Benue State, Police operatives have again successfully intercepted and dismantled a notorious arms supply syndicate responsible for arming bandits in Benue State and other North-Central States.

"On the 21st of June, 2025, operatives of the FID-IRT acting on credible intelligence on the activities of some bandits who participated in the Yelwata killings, stormed the hideout of the bandits in a forest at the boundary of Kardako, Nassarawa State and Yelwata in Benue State, a fierce gun duel ensued causing the bandits to flee with various degrees of gunshot injuries. 2 GPMG were recovered from their hideout in the process
 
"Similarly, On 8th July 2025, operatives of the Force Intelligence Department – Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT), in a tactical operation, along the Lafia–Makurdi expressway in Makurdi, Benue State, arrested one Abubakar Isah, aged 25, found in possession of 3 AK47 rifles and  1002 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition. The arrest followed actionable intelligence indicating an impending arms movement intended for distribution to bandits groups known to be terrorizing various communities in Benue State. Further investigations revealed that the arms and ammunition were supplied by a notorious arms dealer, Jacob Adikwu, operating from Abinsi, Guma Local Government area of Benue State, and was to be delivered to one Dan Hassan, a bandit kingpin known for orchestrating deadly attacks against communities across Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Niger, and Kwara States.

"In another related development, on the 12th of July, 2025, FID-IRT operatives acting on credible intelligence arrested one ibrahim AKA Chelsea, who confessed to have sent the sum of Six Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira( 6,500,000) to the same Adikwu Jacob, Six Million Naira (6,000,000) being payment for delivery of 2 AK47 rifles and 2000 rounds of live ammunition, while Five Hundred Thousand Naira (500,000)would serve as payment for construction of a compartment in the Volkswagen vehicle to conceal the said arms for transportation to Kwara State.  

"In a swift follow-up clearance operation, the operatives stormed Abinsi town and successfully apprehended Jacob Adikwu on 16th July 2025 and recovered three (3) AK-47 rifles, 220 rounds of live ammunition and a volkswagen car from his hideout. Further investigation carried out by the operatives on the 17th July 2025, led to the recovery of additional five (5) AK-47 rifles, one rocket launcher, and 1000 rounds of live ammunition from the same arms dealer."