The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, said no fewer than 53 suspects have been arrested in connection with the recent wave of deadly attacks in Benue and Plateau States that claimed dozens of lives and left several others injured or displaced.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, the IGP described the June 13 massacre in Yelewata community in Benue State as a “coordinated attack of terror.”
Egbetokun said 26 were arrested for the attack in Yelewata, 22 suspects nabbed in connection with the Plateau incident, and another five in Benue for a more recent attack in Makurdi.
He stated that 47 persons were killed and 27 were injured in the Yelewata attack, adding that two general-purpose machine guns and eight AK-47 rifles used in the attack were recovered.
Egbetokun said, “As we all recall, on June 13, 2025, between the hours of 23:30 and the hour of 23:40, two militias invaded the Eluwata community in the Manuka Province area of Benue State, killing and maiming any soul on sight.
The invaders rampaged and pillaged the community, setting several houses ablaze and maliciously destroying other properties and properties of livelihoods.
“It was a coordinated attack of terror against the community. In this senseless barbaric attack, 47 persons were confirmed killed. 27 persons sustained various degrees of injuries, while hundreds of others have been displaced but not dead.
“The police and other security agencies responded with adequate deployment of personnel and resources, including the deployment of tactical units and special forces to restore confidence in the affected community and neighbouring communities. Also immediately deployed were detectives from our intelligence response team, who swung into action, launching a manhunt for the perpetrators of this heinous crime. I am pleased to inform you here today that 26 persons directly connected to this crime have so far been arrested and their weapons recovered.”
Explaining how the suspects were arrested, Egbetokun said two prime suspects were nabbed on June 19 from their hideout, adding that the prime suspects helped the police to arrest seven other suspects.
He said, “On June 19, two prime suspects who were masterminds of this attack were apprehended from their hideout. This arrest led to the arrest of seven other suspects the following day, 20 June 2025. They were picked up from their previous locations, where they had fled, hoping to evade justice.
“On 21 June, another key suspect, in whose house the pressure meeting to plan the attack was held, was also arrested. On 22 June, a major breakthrough was recorded with the arrest of 18 other suspects, who directly took part in the killings. On 23 June, our detectives recovered two general-purpose machine guns and eight AK-47 rifles, which were part of the weapons used during the attack.”
Egbetokun said all the 26 suspects arrested in connection with the Yelewata attack are in custody and have confessed to the crime.
He said, “All 26 suspects are currently in custody and have voluntarily confessed to their individual and collective roles in this attack. As I speak, legal proceedings have been finalised and they will be arraigned in court without delay. We will go after anyone, planner or executor, who attacks any community in Nigeria.”
In a related incident, the IGP also disclosed that 22 persons have been arrested in connection with the June 22 mob attack in Mangu, Plateau State, where passengers travelling from Zaria were brutally killed.
He said, “Similarly, on 22 June 2025, a heartbreaking incident occurred in Mangu, Plateau State, where a bus conveying passengers from Zaria was stopped and attacked by a mob. Tragically, nine of the passengers were murdered, and three sustained injuries before our teams could intervene and rescue the remaining 22 victims.
“So far, 22 suspects have also been arrested in connection with this gruesome act of mob violence. These, too, will face the full weight of the law in court.”
The police boss further revealed the arrest of five persons in Makurdi, Benue State capital, for their alleged involvement in the killing of two truck travellers in the Agan area on June 23.
Egbetokun said, “Again, yesterday, 23 June 2025, another ugly incident was recorded in Benue State, where two persons travelling in a truck were killed at Agan area, North Bank, Makurdi.
“Five persons connected to this crime have also been arrested and will also be made to face the full weight of the law.”
Decrying the trend of reprisal attacks in the country, the IG warned that the police would leave no stone unturned to arrest perpetrators.
He called on Nigerians to reject violence and embrace peace regardless of ethnic or religious affiliations.
Egbetokun said, “The recent trend of reprisal killings, where innocent citizens are murdered in retaliation for crimes committed by others, is barbaric, senseless, and dangerous. It does not bring justice.
“We will go after anyone, planner or executor, who attacks any community in Nigeria. We will leave no stone unturned until justice is served,” the police chief declared.
He said police were doing a lot to mop up arms everywhere. “Almost on a daily basis, we recover arms,” he said.
“In the Yelwata incident, we made arrests and we recovered arms. The police are doing a lot on border security,” he said.
He warned police officers who drop the name of the IGP to perpetrate illegality to desist or face the wrath of the law.
The IGP said he would not arrest anyone who abuses public officials, but would not fail to arrest anyone who publishes falsehoods against any Nigerian.
“I have been abused on a regular basis on the internet. I don’t care if you abuse me. But we will arrest anyone who publishes falsehoods against any public official,” he added.
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