Benue Killings: Police Arrest Gunrunners, Recover Rocket Launcher, Machine Guns, AK-47s In Crackdown On Arms Ring

The Nigeria Police Force has said that its operatives have arrested several key arms suppliers in connection with the violent attacks and killings in Benue State, and recovered a significant cache of weapons intended for use by bandits.

According to a statement released on Wednesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, operatives of the Force Intelligence Department, Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) intercepted and dismantled an arms supply network allegedly arming criminal gangs responsible for deadly attacks across Benue and other North-Central states.

Adejobi stated that on June 21, 2025, FID-IRT operatives acting on credible intelligence stormed a forest hideout at the border of Kardako in Nasarawa State and Yelwata in Benue State.

The Force spokesperson said the operation targeted bandits believed to have taken part in the recent Yelwata killings in Benue State where hundreds of people were killed.

He said a fierce gun duel ensued during the operation, forcing the suspects to flee with varying degrees of gunshot wounds.

He said that during a search of the hideout, two General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs) were recovered.

In a separate operation on July 8, 2025, Adejobi said police operatives arrested a 25-year-old suspect, Abubakar Isah, along the Lafia–Makurdi expressway in Benue State.

According to him, Isah was found with three AK-47 rifles and 1,002 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition.

He said investigations revealed that the weapons were supplied by an arms dealer identified as Jacob Adikwu, who operates out of Abinsi in Guma Local Government Area of the state.

He said the consignment was meant for delivery to a bandit kingpin identified as Dan Hassan, known for orchestrating violent attacks across Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Niger, and Kwara states.

According to Adejobi, further developments came on July 12, when operatives arrested another suspect, identified simply as Ibrahim, also known as “Chelsea.”

The police spokesperson said Ibrahim confessed to transferring N6.5 million to Adikwu, N6 million as payment for two AK-47 rifles and 2,000 rounds of ammunition, and N500,000 to modify a Volkswagen vehicle with a concealed compartment for transporting the weapons to Kwara State.

Following the lead, Adejobi said FID-IRT operatives launched a clearance operation in Abinsi on July 16 and arrested Jacob Adikwu.

He said the operatives recovered three AK-47 rifles, 220 rounds of live ammunition, and a Volkswagen car from his hideout.

He said in a follow-up search conducted the next day, the operatives recovered five AK-47 rifles, a rocket launcher, and 1,000 rounds of live ammunition.

“Efforts are being intensified to ensure Dan Hassan and other criminal elements responsible for terrorising Benue State and other parts of the country are brought to book, while others in custody will have their day in court upon conclusion of investigation,” Adejobi stated.

He said that Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, who commended the operatives, declared that there will be no hiding place for those who profit from the bloodshed of innocent Nigerians.

The IGP urged security operatives to sustain the momentum in line with directives from President Bola Tinubu, and reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to restoring peace and stability across the country.