By David Torough, Abuja

Barely one weekend after President Bola Tinubu’s directives to immediately fish out the perpetrators of the Yelewata massacre in Benue state, the Inspector-general of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has confirmed the arrest of 26 suspects for their alleged involvement in the recent massacre at Yelewata community of Guma local government area in Benue State.

Egbetokun said in the attack, 47 villagers were killed, two attackers were killed by the police and over 100 others were displaced.

He disclosed this during a press briefing at the Force Headquarters yesterday in Abuja.

Egbetokun said the majority of the suspects were arrested on June 22.

Relatedly, the IGP also revealed that 22 suspects have been arrested for killing 12 travellers in Plateau State, while five persons have been arrested for killing two people in Benue State this week.

The arrests were coming barely a week after President Bola Tinubu directed the immediate arrest of the killer-herders who perpetrated the heinous killing of over 100 people in Yelewata community in Benue State.

Tinubu gave the directive while addressing stakeholders at the Government House, Markudi, during a visit to the State.

The meeting included the Secretary to the Federal Government, George Akume, Traditional Rulers and former governors of the state among others.

Tinubu had called out the Inspector General of Police to know why arrests had not been made at the time.

 “How come no one has been arrested for committing this heinous crime in Yelewata. Inspector General of Police, where are the arrests? The criminals must be arrested immediately,” President Tinubu directed.

He urged the heads of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) to intensify surveillance and gather actionable intelligence to apprehend the perpetrators.

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A  200 level Student of the Niger state Government own Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai identified as Jafar has been  killed by suspected armed robbers.

Students of the institution have barricaded the busy Lapai- Affair expressway to protest the killing as a security battle to restore order to the University town.

Niger State Police Command public Relations officer, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the development in a statement issued to the media in Minna on Monday.

He described the incident as Culpable Homicide in Lapai in one if the Student lodges outside the university campus.

“Today being 23rd June, 2025 at about 3am, information was received that at about 2.

“Police operatives of Lapai Div rushed to the scene, but the suspected robbers had escaped.

He disclosed that unfortunately, one jafar was stabbed on the neck and he was rushed to general hospital Lapai where he was later confirmed dead.

He also disclosed that angered by the development, some students’ barricaded Agaie-Lapai road, protesting against this incident.

“However, tactical teams of the Command have been dispatched to Lapai to ensure that normalcy is restored”

 According to him, investigation into the unfortunate incident has commenced as the Commissioner of Police directed that the perpetrators of this heinous crime must be arrested and brought to book.

A student of the institution who identified herself as Temitope said the victim just resumed from sallah break yesterday Saturday, the 21st of June and got killed on Sunday the 22nd of June.

The late Jafar is also said to be the only son of his parents even as the security situation has become a thing of concern to the town community in recent months.

Meanwhile, the weekly lapai market has been banned from holding tomorrow Tuesday, as the Emir of Lapai Engineer Umar Tafida Bago said the measure was taken to forestall breakdown of law and order in the town.

From Abdullahi Abubakar, Ilorin

In a move to stem the tide of rising robbery attacks targeting students in Malete, authorities have imposed a series of restrictions on movement and nighttime activities within the university host community.

The resolution was reached at a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the management of Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, on Monday with the agreement of all key stakeholders, including the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Shaykh-Luqman Alade Jimoh, members of the University’s extended management team, the Chairperson of Moro Local Government Council, traditional leaders, security agencies, the alumni association, and the Student Union body.

As part of the new security measures Motorcycle operations are now restricted from 10:00PM, all commercial activities and general movement must cease by 11:00PM while generator sets are to be switched off by midnight and night parties banned outright.

The stakeholders also agreed on the formation of a Joint Security Committee, comprising representatives from the University, Malete community, Students Union, and security agencies.

In addition, all private hostels in the community are mandated to engage security personnel, while trained vigilantes will be employed to support formal security efforts.

Speaking at the meeting, Vice-Chancellor Professor Shaykh-Luqman Jimoh reiterated the University’s unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all students.

Chairperson of Moro Local Government Council, Hajia Mariam Abdulwasiu, disclosed that the Council would initiate the legal framework to enact a bye-law formalizing the agreed restrictions.

She also announced the deployment of 10 additional vigilantes equipped with necessary security tools to bolster the area’s night patrol.

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