Suspected Fulani Killers Of 200 In Yelwata, Benue Nabbed
The joint security services in Benue State have announced the arrest of suspects linked to a recent attack in the Yelwata area, where several people were killed and many others displaced.
Following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit last week, the military and the police launched a joint, cross-border manhunt for the gunmen who killed around 200 villagers in Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, on the night of Friday, June 13, 2025.
Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa and Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun arrived in Makurdi and Yeewata last week’s Monday to coordinate the operation that would target the suspected killers.
At a press conference on Sunday, June 22, the Commissioner of Police in Benue State, Emenari Ifeanyi, confirmed the arrests but kept the lid on the identities of those arrested.
Emenari stated that these arrests would not have been possible without the support of Governor Hyacinth Alia.
He also mentioned that the deployment ordered by IGP Kayode Egbetokun has been completed, with officers assigned to rural communities to enhance policing efforts.
He urged landlords and hotel owners to properly vet their tenants and clients to help prevent the presence of terrorists in Benue.
Two weeks back, gunmen, believed to be herders, attacked the Yelwata community in the Guma Local Government Area, resulting in numerous fatalities and the displacement of thousands.
Musa, after assessing the carnage, vowed to take the battle to the terrorists by changing the military’s strategy to fit the situation on the ground.
However, given the manner of the attack, he expressed concerns that the attackers are operating with help from within the community.
The Defence Chief briefed journalists in Yelewata, saying, “In every society, including the military, there are always people who compromise. I promise to meet with the commanders and find ways to change our strategies.
“In my estimation, it is one killing too many. We’re here to ensure that we address such. From here, I’m going to see my commanders, and we are going to change our strategies to look inwards and see how we can address this. We cannot do it alone without the community.
“There may be trust issues that we are going to address. For us we want this to be the last that would happen.
“We need everybody to be part of it, we understand that even before now we used to have even within us, people that used to compromise and give out information.
“If you see the way some of the burnings were made, you know that they were targeted. It shows they have insiders.”
The CDS also acknowledged the porous borders between Nasarawa and Benue states and promised to meet with the Nasarawa State Governor to discuss how to tackle the challenge.
He explained, “I want to assure Nigerians, the whole Benue State, and all over the country, that we are determined, based on the mandate of Mr President, that we will restore peace and tranquillity within the country.
“We always have information that these people are coming from across borders; wherever they come from, we will go after them.
“We must take the battle to them, we must not wait for them to attack, and that is what I think. It is very critical that tomorrow (Tuesday) we proceed to Nasarawa State because the borders are actually very critical to the success of what we are doing.”
While urging the youths to support the military, Musa sought support from every Nigerian too.
