Nigerian security forces have disrupted a major arms trafficking network accused of fueling violent attacks by armed groups in the country’s North-Central region, according to an official police statement. The breakthrough follows months of coordinated operations targeting weapon suppliers linked to bandit factions operating across multiple states.
In a detailed release dated July 2025, Force Public Relations Officer ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi confirmed that the Intelligence Response Team of the Force Intelligence Department (FID-IRT) conducted raids between June and July, resulting in multiple arrests and weapons seizures. The operations were tied to investigations into recent violence, including the Yelwata massacre, a deadly assault that drew national outrage.
On June 21, agents stormed a forest hideout straddling the borders of Nasarawa’s Kardako and Benue’s Yelwata communities. A gunfight erupted as authorities confronted suspects believed to be supplying arms to bandits, forcing the group to flee. Two General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs)—high-caliber weapons often used in military operations—were recovered at the scene.
A follow-up operation on July 8 led to the arrest of 25-year-old Abubakar Isah along the Lafia–Makurdi highway. Authorities discovered three AK-47 rifles and over 1,000 rounds of ammunition in his possession. Investigations revealed the cache was part of a shipment orchestrated by Jacob Adikwu, a suspected arms dealer based in Benue State’s Abinsi district. The weapons were allegedly en route to Dan Hassan, a wanted bandit leader accused of coordinating attacks across five states, including Benue, Nasarawa, and Niger.
The crackdown highlights ongoing challenges in curbing insecurity in Nigeria’s North-Central region, where clashes between armed groups, farmers, and pastoralists have escalated in recent years. Security analysts note that disrupting weapon supply chains remains critical to addressing the violence, which has displaced thousands and strained resources.
Authorities did not confirm whether Adikwu or Hassan had been apprehended but emphasized that operations to dismantle the network are ongoing. The recoveries, particularly the GPMGs, underscore the sophisticated firepower available to non-state actors in the region. While the arrests mark a tactical victory, experts caution that sustained intelligence efforts and regional cooperation will be essential to prevent retaliatory attacks or the emergence of new trafficking routes.
This operation aligns with broader national security initiatives to tackle banditry and terrorism, though communities in affected areas continue to call for stronger protections against recurring threats.
