In response to the brutal killing of approximately 200 villagers in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State on the night of June 13, 2025, the Nigerian military and police have initiated a joint cross-border manhunt to apprehend the perpetrators. The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, alongside Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, arrived in Makurdi and Yelewata on Monday to personally oversee and coordinate the security operations targeting the attackers.
After inspecting the devastation, General Musa pledged to adapt military strategies to the realities on the ground, emphasizing a more aggressive stance against the terrorists. “In every society, including the military, there are always people who compromise,” he told journalists in Yelewata. “I promise to meet with the commanders and find ways to change our strategies. In my estimation, it is one killing too many. We’re here to ensure that we address such.”
Musa expressed concern that the attackers had inside help, citing the targeted nature of the arson attacks. “If you see the way some of the burnings were made, you know that they were targeted. It shows they have insiders,” he said, urging the community to support the military’s efforts. He also acknowledged the porous borders between Nasarawa and Benue states as a vulnerability and plans to engage with the Nasarawa governor to address this challenge.
Inspector-General Egbetokun condemned the attacks as a direct threat to Nigeria’s sovereignty. Speaking in Makurdi, he sympathized with the victims and vowed to increase police deployment despite the vast and challenging terrain of Benue State. “We might not be able to cover every inch of the place, but we will deploy adequately to ensure the protection of lives and property,” he assured.
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State welcomed the security chiefs’ visit, expressing sorrow over the recent attacks and optimism that coordinated efforts would restore peace. He highlighted the complexity of the violence, attributing much of it to external armed groups. “We have a complex situation that is being sponsored and controlled from somewhere,” he said.
President Bola Tinubu, responding to the crisis, rescheduled his Kaduna visit to instead travel to Benue on June 18 to engage stakeholders and assess the security situation firsthand. His administration has dispatched top security officials to the state and directed Governor Alia to convene reconciliation meetings among the warring parties.
The massacre has drawn widespread condemnation from various groups, including the Arewa Consultative Forum, Jama’atu Nasril Islam, and rights organizations calling for stronger security measures and justice for the victims. Former Senate President David Mark warned that failure to protect citizens could lead to self-defense by communities, while opposition parties criticized the federal government’s response as insufficient.
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) also weighed in, alleging that the violence was linked to political motives and the targeting of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu. Meanwhile, the Nigeria Governors Forum and civil society groups have urged unity and comprehensive action to end the bloodshed.
This tragic event marks another dark chapter in the ongoing cycle of violence fueled by farmer-herder conflicts, banditry, and security lapses in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region. The coordinated military and police response, coupled with political engagement, aims to bring lasting peace to Benue State and prevent further loss of innocent lives.
