The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Christopher Musa has declared Yelwata safe, saying locals who have fled the town can return.
General Musa said this while briefing journalists after a peace advocacy meeting with traditional rulers and elders at the Makurdi Government House.
He said more personnel have been deployed to protect locals against further attacks.
On June 24 this year, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun told journalists that twenty-six (26) persons directly connected to the Yelwata attacks “have so far been arrested and their weapons recovered.”
The 26 were arrested after the initial two were arrested between June 19 and June 22.
“On 23rd June, our detectives recovered two (2) GPMG and eight (8) AK47 rifles which were part of the weapons used during the attack,” IGP Egbetokun told journalists during briefings at Force Headquarters Abuja.
“We will go after anyone – planner or executor – who attacks any community in Nigeria. We will leave no stone unturned until every single individual responsible for the killing of innocent Nigerians is arrested and brought to justice,” he assured.
Hundreds of locals have been killed in Benue State in the last few weeks by armed bandits, who are working with herdsmen in various Benue communities.
