IGP Confirms Arrest Of 26 Suspects Connected To Benue Killings

The inspector general of police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, said  26 suspects have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the massacre at Yelewata community, in Benue State.

He said in the attack, 47 villagers were killed, the police killed two attackers, and over 100 others were displaced.

He disclosed this during Tuesday’s press briefing at the Force Headquarters in Abuja. He said most of the suspects were arrested on June 22, 2025.

Meanwhile, the IGP also revealed that 22 suspects have been arrested for the killing of nine travellers in Plateau State, while five persons have been arrested for the killing of two people in Benue this week.

The arrest is coming barely a week after President Bola Tinubu directed the immediate arrest of the killer herders who perpetrated the heinous killing of over 100 people in Yelewata community in Benue State.

Tinubu gave the directive while addressing stakeholders at the Government House, Markudi.

The meeting included the Secretary to the Federal Government, George Akume, Traditional Rulers, and former Governors of the state.

President Tinubu called out the Inspector General of Police to find out why arrests have not been made.

“How come no one has been arrested for committing this heinous crime in Yelewata. Inspector General of Police, where are the arrests? The criminals must be arrested immediately,” President Tinubu had directed.

He urged the heads of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) to intensify surveillance and gather actionable intelligence to apprehend the perpetrators.