IGP visits Benue after deadly Yelewata attack kills over 100

Summary

• Over 100 people killed in Yelewata community as violence escalates in Benue
• IGP Egbetokun orders deployment of tactical teams to restore security
• Amnesty International urges action over “almost daily bloodshed” in the state

Abuja, Nigeria — The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, arrived in Benue State on June 16, 2025, following a brutal attack on Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area that left more than 100 people dead.

The massacre, which occurred between late Friday and early Saturday, June 13–14, has been blamed on suspected herdsmen and is part of a growing wave of violence in the region.

While Amnesty International confirmed at least 100 fatalities, other sources, including Daily Post Nigeria, report that the death toll could be as high as 250. The international human rights group condemned the incident and urged the Nigerian government to end what it called the “almost daily bloodshed” in Benue State by arresting and prosecuting those responsible.

In response, IGP Egbetokun ordered the immediate deployment of additional tactical police teams to the area to contain the unrest and strengthen security.

The move builds on previous efforts by the police chief, who in April 2025 withdrew Mobile Police Force personnel from unauthorized VIP escorts to concentrate on security operations in high-risk zones, particularly in states like Benue.

Benue, situated in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, continues to face persistent conflict between nomadic herders and settled farming communities, often rooted in competition over land and resources and inflamed by ethnic and religious tensions.