Benue PDP Faults Police Over Arrests After Deadly Yelwata Attack

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State has accused Nigerian security agencies of carrying out politically motivated arrests in the wake of the deadly attack on Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area, that left scores of residents dead and entire villages in ruins.

The assault, which took place in mid-June 2025, was reportedly carried out by suspected armed herders in a coordinated night-time raid. Attackers split into units, with one group targeting the local police station while others moved from house to house, killing residents and setting homes ablaze. Survivors described harrowing scenes of entire families being wiped out in moments, with many children among the victims.

According to Amnesty International, over 100 people were killed in Yelwata alone. Local leaders have placed the combined death toll in Guma and nearby areas at more than 200. Beyond the human tragedy, the violence also destroyed hundreds of bags of harvested rice valued at over ₦25 million, worsening the plight of displaced farmers.

A leaked security memo later revealed that the Department of State Services (DSS) had issued a warning to the military weeks before the incident, alerting them to possible militia attacks in the area. Despite this, no preventive action was taken.

In a statement issued Wednesday, the PDP expressed outrage at the pattern of arrests following the massacre. The party claimed that only individuals perceived to be its supporters have so far been apprehended, suggesting that the investigation is being used to settle political scores rather than uncover the truth behind the killings.

The party insisted that justice must be blind to political affiliation and that the security agencies must act impartially. It warned that selective arrests could deepen political divisions and fuel distrust in the country’s justice system.

While victims continue to reel from the devastation, the PDP called on authorities to prioritize professionalism and fairness. The party urged security operatives to focus on finding the actual perpetrators of the attack, regardless of political alignment, to restore public trust and prevent further unrest in the region.