The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has announced the arrest of 53 suspects linked to the recent spate of deadly attacks in Benue and Plateau States, which left dozens dead and many others injured or displaced.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, the IGP described the June 13 massacre in Yelwata, Benue State, as a “coordinated attack of terror,” confirming that 26 persons had been arrested in connection with the killings that claimed 47 lives and left 27 others injured.
“All 26 suspects are currently in custody and have voluntarily confessed to their individual and collective roles in this attack,” Egbetokun stated.
“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.”
He disclosed that two general-purpose machine guns and eight AK-47 rifles used in the assault were recovered by police operatives.
Egbetokun also gave an update on the tragic killings in Plateau State, where 22 suspects were arrested in connection with the murder of nine persons who were travelling to Quanpan for a wedding ceremony.
Additionally, five other suspects were apprehended for a separate recent attack in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
Initially, 28 individuals were detained over the Yelwata attack, but the IGP clarified that two were later released after investigations revealed they were used as bait to lure the actual masterminds.
The IGP further assured Nigerians that the police were not overwhelmed by the scale of these attacks and are actively working to clamp down on armed militias.
“We are mopping up light and small weapons illegally acquired by some persons,” he said, adding that border patrols have been intensified to control the movement of irregular migrants and arms into the country.
The Benue State Police Command had earlier confirmed the arrest of suspects in the Yelwata incident, though details remained sketchy until the IGP’s latest briefing.
The recent arrests represent one of the largest coordinated crackdowns by security agencies in response to communal violence in recent months.
The police say they remain committed to bringing all perpetrators to justice and restoring peace to affected communities.
