By Esther Ososanya
Twenty eight suspects have been arrested in connection with the Yelewata killings in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
Their arrest comes less than a week after President Bola Tinubu ordered security agencies to act swiftly.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, announced the arrests during a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said: “We are still pursuing others involved in the killings.”
Egbetokun dismissed claims that the police were overstretched, adding that officers are actively mopping up light and small weapons in the wrong hands.
Read Also: Benue Displacement Tops 6,500, NEMA Flags Crisis Risk
What We Know About attacks in GUMA Local Government
Benue’s Guma LGA (in Nigeria’s central Middle Belt) has long been beset by deadly farmer–herder clashes over land and water. The area around Yelewata saw a spate of attacks in recent months.
In May 2025, gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen struck four villages in Guma LGA, killing about 42 people in one week.
Analysts note this violence is part of a broader pattern: since 2019 over 500 people have been killed and millions displaced in Benue’s herder–farmer conflict.
In the latest attack on Yelewata (June 13–14, 2025), gunmen stormed the village at night, setting fire to homes and markets.
Human-rights monitors say “over 200” people were killed. Survivors reported dozens more missing or wounded after the early-morning raid.
This makes the Yelewata assault among the deadliest in Benue in years.
Read Also: Benue: Tinubu Orders Security Chiefs to Enforce Peace
More Prosecutions to Follow in Jos Case
The IGP also confirmed that 22 suspects arrested in Jos in connection with the killing of nine wedding-bound travelers heading to Quanpan will be arraigned soon.
The victims, comprising 32 men, women and children, were travelling in an 18-seater bus belonging to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, from Basawa community in Zaria, Kaduna State, to Qua’an Pan LGA of Plateau when they were attacked.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.