IGP Confirms Arrest Of 53 Suspects Connected To Benue, Plateau Killings

The inspector-general of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has said that 26 suspects have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the recent massacre at Yelewata community of Guma local government area in Benue State.

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

He disclosed this during a press briefing at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said the majority of the suspects were arrested on June 22, 2025.

Meanwhile, the IGP also revealed that 22 suspects have been arrested for killing 12 travellers in Plateau State, while five persons have been arrested for killing two people in Benue State this week.

The arrests were 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, during a visit to the State.

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

President Tinubu had called out the Inspector General of Police to know why arrests have not been made at the time.

“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 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.