Benue Police Commissioner: We Engaged Yelewata Attackers in Six-Hour Gun Battle

The Benue State Commissioner of Police, Emenari Ifeanyi Innocent, has disclosed that police officers were locked in an intense six-hour shootout with armed assailants responsible for the recent Yelewata massacre in Guma Local Government Area, where over 200 residents tragically lost their lives last Saturday.

While addressing a large crowd of angry and grieving youths during a protest on Sunday, the Commissioner assured the gathering that law enforcement agencies were fully present and actively working to restore calm throughout the state.

“During the Yelewata crisis, we exchanged gunfire with the attackers for over six hours. I was monitoring every moment live,” Emenari stated, emphasizing the police’s swift response to the brutal assault.

He described the troubling wave of attacks as a temporary situation, likening it to a beheaded snake that continues to twitch for a while but eventually dies out. Emenari encouraged the community to remain composed and cooperative with ongoing security efforts.

“If you observe closely, you’ll see a massive increase in security operations over the past month. This phase is temporary. We’ve dealt a major blow to the criminals. What you’re seeing now is the aftermath. But peace will return — soon.”

The police commissioner reaffirmed the command’s unwavering dedication to eradicating insecurity and restoring sustainable peace in Benue State, pledging that the police would continue operations until calm is fully reestablished.