The Nigeria Police Forces on Wednesday said it has arrested some gunrunners and bandits involved in the killing of hundreds of Yelewata residents in Benue State.
The Force said that operatives of the FID-IRT acting on credible intelligence on June 21, arrested some bandits who participated in the Yelwata killings in Benue State.
In a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the operatives launched an attack on the hideout of the bandits in a forest at the boundary of Kardako, Nassarawa State and Yelwata in Benue State.
Adejobi said a gun battle between the police officers and the criminals left several bandits injured and other fleeing with their wounds.
He said two GPMGs were recovered from the bandits’ hideout during the operation.
In addition, Adejobi stated that on July 8, 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.
Isah, 25, had in his possession three AK-47 rifles and 1002 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition.
Known to be involved in terrorising residents of various communities in Benue, investigations showed that the arms and ammunition recovered were supplied by a notorious arms dealer, Jacob Adikwu.
Adejobi also noted that the arms dealer operates from Abinsi, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
The recovered ammunition 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 an additional five (5) AK-47 rifles, one rocket launcher, and 1000 rounds of live ammunition from the same arms dealer,” Adejobi said.
He added that the police are currently intensifying efforts to ensure that 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 the investigation.
