By Uche Onyeali
Nigeria Police Force said it intercepted and dismantled a notorious arms supply syndicate responsible for arming bandits in Benue and other North Central states.
This was announced in a statement in Abuja Wednesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, FPRO, Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
According to the spokesman, the breakthrough followed sustained intelligence-led operations by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department-Intelligence Response Team, FID-IRT.
He said the crackdown is part of ongoing investigations into the deadly attacks on communities in Benue, including the recent Yelwata killings.
Adejobi said on June 21, police operatives acting on credible intelligence stormed a forest hideout at Kardako-Yelwata boundary between Nasarawa and Benue.
He said an ensuing gun battle forced the bandits to flee with gunshot injuries, adding that two general-purpose machine guns were recovered at the scene.
“Similarly, on July 8, operatives of the Force Intelligence Department – Intelligence Response Team, in a tactical operation, along Lafia–Makurdi Expressway in Makurdi, Benue State, arrested Abubakar Isah, aged 25, found in possession of three AK47 rifles and 1002 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition.
“The arrest followed actionable intelligence indicating an impending arms movement intended for distribution to bandit groups known to be terrorising 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 Dan Hassan, a bandit kingpin known for orchestrating deadly attacks against communities across Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Niger and Kwara States,” the statement said.
The spokesperson revealed that on July 12, police arrested another suspect, identified as Ibrahim, also known as Chelsea.
“In another related development, on July 12, FID-IRT operatives acting on credible intelligence arrested one ibrahim aka Chelsea, who confessed to have sent N6,500,000 to the same Adikwu Jacob, N6,000,000 being payment for delivery of two AK47 rifles and 2000 rounds of live ammunition, while N500,000 would serve as payment for the construction of a compartment in the Volkswagen vehicle to conceal the said arms for transportation to Kwara State,” the statement added.
Adejobi said acting on this information, operatives arrived Abinsi on July 16 and arrested Adikwu. They recovered three AK-47 rifles, 220 rounds of live ammunition and a Volkswagen car.
A follow-up operation on July 17 was said to have led to the seizure of five more AK-47 rifles, a rocket launcher and 1,000 rounds of ammunition from the same location.
Adejobi said efforts are ongoing to apprehend Hassan and other suspects still at large, adding that those in custody will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigation.
