Tinubu Blasts IGP Egbetokun Over Failure to Arrest Benue Killers

President Bola Tinubu has openly criticised the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, for what he described as the police’s failure to arrest those behind the recent massacre in Benue State.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting in Makurdi on Wednesday, Tinubu expressed disappointment that no arrests had been made following the attack on Yelwata, a community in Guma Local Government Area, where over 100 people were killed.

“Police — I’m talking to the IGP — I hope your men are alert and listening to intelligence. How come no arrest has been made? I expect that by now, at least some of those criminals should be in custody,” Tinubu said.

The president also urged Nigeria’s security leadership to ramp up their response to the growing threat of violent attacks. Addressing service chiefs including Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa, Air Force leadership, and the heads of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and Department of State Services (DSS), Tinubu demanded a more proactive approach.

“Christopher, I see your efforts and hear your comments, but you can’t afford to be tired of the bush. To Oloyede and the Air Marshal — we appreciate you, but we need more. Let’s stay alert, gather better intelligence, and go after these criminals.

“DG NIA, DG DSS — retool your information networks. We need actionable intelligence so this doesn’t happen again,” he added.

In his remarks, Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue called on the federal government to urgently establish a state police system and create an intervention fund to combat the rising insecurity in the state. He stressed that without state policing, the fight against insurgency in Benue would remain ineffective.