Abuja, 24 June 2025 – The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has confirmed the arrest of 28 suspects linked to a devastating attack in Yelewata Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State, Nigeria. The announcement was made during a press conference in Abuja, where Egbetokun stated that the police are continuing their pursuit of additional suspects involved in the massacre.
On the night of 13 June 2025, gunmen launched a brutal assault on Yelewata and Daudu communities in Guma LGA, claiming the lives of over 200 people, including internally displaced persons (IDPs) and local farmers. The attackers, believed to be armed herders, stormed the communities, setting homes ablaze and opening fire on residents, many of whom were asleep. The violence, which lasted several hours, also saw the destruction of numerous properties and the displacement of countless families.
The attack began with an assault on a police station in Daudu, approximately 20 kilometres from Yelewata, before the gunmen proceeded to raid the Yelewata community. During the violence, four security personnel—two soldiers, one Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officer, and one civil protection guard—lost their lives while attempting to protect civilians. At least one police officer remains missing, according to the Benue State Commissioner of Police, CP Ifeamyi Enemari.
Egbetokun revealed that one of the arrested suspects is providing valuable information to aid the ongoing investigation. “The suspect is being interrogated, and we are confident that their cooperation will lead us to other perpetrators,” he said. The Inspector-General also assured residents that security has been restored in Yelewata and surrounding areas, with deployments of mobile police units, tactical teams, and military support to prevent further attacks.
The Yelewata massacre is part of a series of violent clashes in Benue State, often attributed to conflicts between nomadic herders and settled farmers over land and resources. Amnesty International has called on the Nigerian government to address the “almost daily bloodshed” in the region, noting that the attack has caused significant displacement and threatens food security, as many victims were farmers.
President Bola Tinubu, during a recent visit to Makurdi, the Benue State capital, directed service chiefs to track down those responsible for the killings. The arrest of the 28 suspects marks a significant step in the investigation, though local communities continue to demand justice and long-term solutions to the recurring violence.
Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities as efforts intensify to bring all perpetrators to justice.
