Operatives of the Force Intelligence Department’s Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) have dismantled a major criminal network linked to terrorism, kidnapping, and armed robbery, arresting 33 suspects and recovering an anti-aircraft launcher alongside other high-grade weapons.
The Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Placid, disclosed the breakthrough on Monday during a press briefing at the FID-IRT headquarters in Abuja, describing the operation as a decisive strike against a growing wave of violence in Nigeria’s North-Central corridor.
The arrests followed coordinated intelligence-led operations across Kwara State and Kogi State, two states that have witnessed a troubling spike in attacks in recent months. Security analysts have warned that the region—once considered relatively stable—is increasingly becoming a soft target for armed groups fleeing sustained military pressure in the North-West and parts of the North-East.
These groups, often linked to bandit networks and terror cells, have intensified raids on rural communities, highways, and places of worship, exploiting porous boundaries and limited security presence in remote areas.
The latest crackdown was triggered by investigations into a deadly attack on a Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State. On November 18, 2025, armed men stormed the church during an evening service, killing at least three worshippers and abducting 38 others, including the pastor. The brazen assault—captured on a live stream—sparked nationwide outrage before the victims were eventually freed through a joint security operation.
According to Placid, intelligence gathered from the incident exposed a broader, well-coordinated criminal syndicate operating across multiple communities.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the gang was involved in a criminal conspiracy. cattle rustling, culpable homicide, unlawful possession of firearms, arms dealing, and acts of terrorism, for which a prima case has been established,” he said
The suspects were apprehended in multiple locations, including Gbugbu, Ora-Ago, Baballa, Kaiama, Awi, Charagi, Patigi, and Okeode. During the operations, some members of the gang reportedly abandoned an anti-aircraft launcher and several assault rifles while attempting to evade arrest.
Items recovered include seven AK-47 rifles, multiple magazines, 32 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, communication devices, and tactical gear—an arsenal that underscores the growing sophistication of criminal groups operating in the region.
The 33 suspects are part of over 50 individuals paraded by the police as part of ongoing nationwide efforts to dismantle organized crime networks. Authorities say investigations are continuing, with efforts underway to track down fleeing members and recover additional weapons.
The operation marks a significant breakthrough, but it also highlights the evolving security challenge in Nigeria’s North-Central zone—where criminal gangs are increasingly blurring the lines between banditry and terrorism.
