IGP Meets Benue Leaders, Moves to Boost Security Following Mass Killings

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Monday visited Yelwata community in Benue State’s Guma Local Government Area in response to the recent wave of violence that claimed numerous lives.

Accompanied by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, the police chief assessed the destruction caused by the attacks and met with community leaders to discuss the crisis and possible solutions.

In a post shared on the Nigeria Police Force’s official X.com account, the IGP and CDS were shown interacting with residents and inspecting the scene of the incident. 

The visit follows public outrage and mounting pressure on the government to intervene after back-to-back assaults by suspected armed herders in the area.

As part of immediate measures to restore order, Egbetokun directed the deployment of more tactical operatives to the affected communities to support ongoing security operations.

The attacks, which occurred over two days, left at least 45 people confirmed dead. 

However, local sources suggested the actual number could be significantly higher, with some families reportedly wiped out and victims burned in their homes. 

Security personnel are also said to be among the casualties.

The federal government’s slow response has sparked criticism across the country, especially on social media, where many compared the silence over the Benue crisis to the prompt political intervention in Rivers State earlier this year, which involved a state of emergency declaration despite the absence of any deaths.