The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has strongly condemned the recent massacre in Yelwata community of Benue State, where over 200 people were brutally killed in one of the deadliest attacks in recent history.
Describing the incident as a “mindless act of terror,” IGP Egbetokun said the killings were not just an assault on the people of Benue but a direct threat to the sovereignty and integrity of the Nigerian nation.
“This is terror not just on Benue, but on all of us. On Nigeria as a whole,” the IGP said during an on-the-spot assessment visit to the affected area.
Egbetokun, visibly moved during his address, expressed heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families and the people of Benue State. He assured them of renewed commitment from the Nigeria Police Force and pledged to strengthen synergy with sister security agencies to ensure that lasting peace is restored.
“These bandits operating with impunity will soon be a thing of the past. A day is fast approaching when they will come and never return,” he said defiantly.
The IGP also delivered a message of condolence from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who, according to him, was deeply saddened by the fresh wave of attacks on vulnerable communities in the state. The President, he added, is committed to ending the reign of impunity and criminal terror across Nigeria.
“We may not be present at every inch of the state,” Egbetokun admitted, “but we will deploy sufficient personnel and resources in coordination with other security agencies to protect lives and property.”
The visit came amid national outrage and mourning over the killings, which have reignited concerns about the escalating violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region, particularly in Benue State — often described as the epicenter of herder-farmer and communal conflicts.
Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, commended the IGP and President Tinubu for their swift response, acknowledging the emotional and symbolic power of the police chief’s visit.
“We are bleeding. We are in sorrow. We are no longer sleeping,” Governor Alia said. “But your visit uplifts our spirit and restores in us a growing confidence that peace will return.”
Communities across Benue have called for swift justice, increased military presence, and long-term solutions to what many describe as systemic insecurity and targeted violence.
As security agencies continue investigations and deployments in the area, the nation watches closely hoping that the tragedy of Yelwata will finally spark lasting reform and protection for Nigeria’s most vulnerable communities.
