IGP Egbetokun: 53 Arrested Over Benue, Plateau Massacres
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has confirmed the arrest of 53 suspects in connection with the recent spate of deadly attacks in Benue and Plateau States, which have left dozens dead and several others wounded or displaced.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, Egbetokun described the June 13 massacre in Yelewata community, Benue State, as a “coordinated act of terror”, vowing that security agencies would leave no stone unturned in bringing the perpetrators to justice.
According to him, 26 suspects were apprehended in connection with the Yelewata killings, where 47 people lost their lives and 27 others sustained injuries. The police also recovered two general-purpose machine guns and eight AK-47 rifles believed to have been used during the attack.
In addition, the IGP disclosed that 22 suspects linked to violent incidents in Plateau State were also in custody, alongside another five suspects arrested in Benue over a separate recent attack.
Egbetokun assured Nigerians that the police, working in synergy with other security agencies, would intensify efforts to dismantle criminal networks fueling violence in the Middle Belt region.
“We are determined to ensure that those behind these heinous crimes face the full wrath of the law. The safety and security of Nigerians remain our utmost priority,” he declared.
The recent surge in violence has reignited calls for urgent government intervention to address security lapses and promote lasting peace in the affected communities.
