By Emeka Blast 
“Police, I hope your men are on alert… How come no arrest has been made? I expect there should be an arrest of those criminals.”- Tinubu
Attack in Yelwata, Benue
Over 150 residents were killed in the Yelwata community in Guma LGA during the night of June 13. Survivors report homes and a market were burned, with many bodies charred and livestock/stocks destroyed .
The violence is tied to long‑standing herder–farmer conflicts in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, aggravated by land and water scarcity, ethnic tensions, and climate change .
🛡️ Tinubu’s Response & Security Directive
President Bola Tinubu visited Benue on June 18, his first trip since taking office, and addressed service chiefs and the IGP during a town‑hall in Makurdi .
He directly challenged the top brass:
“Police, I hope your men are on alert… How come no arrest has been made? I expect there should be an arrest of those criminals.”
Tinubu urged:
Military, IGP, Defense, and intelligence chiefs (NIA, SSS) to retool info channels and ramp up intelligence gathering.
Governor Alia to organize reconciliation meetings locally .
Formation of a leadership committee in Abuja to strategize long-term peacebuilding .
🌍 Wider Implications
The UN has condemned the killings and urged Tinubu’s government to bring the perpetrators to justice, stating this reflects a broader pattern of ethnic violence .
SGF George Akume emphasized that the federal government is fully committed to arrests and intelligence-driven action, citing economic threats to Benue’s crucial agricultural sector .
🧭 Quick Take
The attack left at least 150–200 dead; estimates vary.
Tinubu is demanding accountability, calling out the IGP for the lack of arrests.
Federal and state efforts are now under scrutiny to ensure justice and prevent future massacres.
