SECURITY FORCES ARREST SUSPECTS IN DEADLY YELWATA ATTACK AFTER PRESIDENT TINUBU’S DIRECTIVE

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

The Benue State Police Command has announced the arrest of suspects linked to last week’s deadly attack on Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area, where several residents were killed and thousands displaced.

Benue State Commissioner of Police, Emenari Ifeanyi, disclosed the arrests during a press briefing on Sunday but did not reveal the identities of the suspects. The development comes days after President Bola Tinubu ordered service chiefs and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to apprehend those responsible for the heinous act.

The Commissioner attributed the success of the operation to the support provided by Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia, and confirmed that special deployments ordered by IGP Kayode Egbetokun have arrived and been dispatched to rural areas to enhance security.

CP Emenari urged landlords and hotel owners across the state to be vigilant and profile tenants and guests to prevent criminal elements from gaining shelter.

President Tinubu had expressed his frustration during a visit to the state last Wednesday, demanding prompt action from security agencies. “Let’s get those criminals, let’s get them out,” he told service chiefs, intelligence heads, and the IGP, while also calling for improved intelligence gathering to prevent future attacks.

The assailants, suspected to be armed herders, attacked Yelwata community in what residents described as a night of terror, resulting in multiple fatalities and a humanitarian crisis.

Security operatives say investigations are ongoing, and more arrests are expected in the coming days.