26 Arrested Over Benue Massacre Following Presidential Order

Police have arrested 26 suspects in connection with the recent massacre in Yelewata community, Benue State, which left over 100 people dead. The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, announced the arrests on Tuesday while addressing journalists at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

The development comes less than a week after President Bola Tinubu ordered immediate action against those responsible for the killings. During a meeting at the Government House in Makurdi, Tinubu directly challenged security agencies over the lack of arrests, demanding urgent action. He questioned the Inspector General of Police on why no suspects had been apprehended and instructed that the perpetrators must be brought to justice without delay.

Present at the meeting were Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, traditional rulers, former governors of the state, and governors from Kwara, Imo, Kogi, Plateau, Ondo, and Nasarawa. Tinubu also directed the heads of the Department of State Services and the National Intelligence Agency to step up intelligence-gathering efforts to support the crackdown.

Sources within the security services said agencies have been working round the clock in response to the presidential directive.