The Nigeria Police Force has arrested 26 suspects in connection with the recent massacre in Yelewata community, Benue State, where dozens of villagers were killed and many displaced.
The Inspector General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Abuja.
Mr Egbetokun revealed that 47 villagers lost their lives in the attack, while police operatives neutralized two of the assailants during the incident. Over 100 residents were reportedly displaced as a result of the violence. Most of the arrests were made on June 22, 2025.
In addition to the Benue arrests, the police chief announced that 22 other suspects have been apprehended in connection with the killing of 12 travellers in Plateau State. Another five individuals were arrested for the murder of two people in a separate attack in Benue State earlier in the week.
These developments come shortly after President Bola Tinubu ordered the immediate arrest and prosecution of killer-herders responsible for the widespread violence in Yelewata and other parts of Benue. The President’s directive followed national outrage over the spate of attacks on rural communities.
