By John Moses
Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has confirmed the arrest of 26 suspects in connection with the brutal massacre of 47 villagers in Yelewata, a community in Benue State.
Speaking at a press briefing at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, Egbetokun revealed that the majority of the arrests were made on 22 June 2025, just days after President Bola Tinubu publicly demanded immediate action over the killings.
The IGP noted that during the violent attack, which left more than 100 people displaced, police forces managed to neutralise two of the assailants.
In addition to the Yelewata arrests, 22 individuals have also been detained in Plateau State for their alleged involvement in the recent killing of nine travellers, while five others were taken into custody over the murder of two people in a separate incident in Benue earlier this week.
President Tinubu, during a high-level meeting in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, had expressed strong dissatisfaction with the security agencies’ handling of the situation. Addressing a gathering that included Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, traditional rulers, and former state governors, the President demanded accountability.
“Inspector General of Police, where are the arrests?” President Tinubu reportedly questioned. “The criminals must be arrested immediately.”
In response, the President instructed both the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) to escalate intelligence efforts and ensure swift apprehension of all involved perpetrators.
The killings in Yelewata have sparked renewed debate about rural insecurity in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where communities have been ravaged by clashes between herders and farmers.
