Following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit to Benue State on June 18, 2025, to address the Yelwata massacre that killed at least 59 people and displaced over 6,500 in Guma Local Government Area, security forces have made significant progress in apprehending suspects linked to the attack.

On June 22, Benue State Commissioner of Police Emenari Ifeanyi announced the arrest of undisclosed suspects during a press briefing, attributing the breakthrough to Governor Hyacinth Alia’s logistical support and the deployment of tactical teams ordered by Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun.

“The arrest would not have been possible without Governor Alia’s support,” Emenari said, noting that investigations are ongoing to uncover the full network behind the violence attributed to suspected armed herders.

The arrests mark a response to the public outcry and pressure for justice following the June 13 attack, which some local reports claim killed up to 200.

Tinubu’s post-visit directives, including the formation of a peace committee and enhanced security measures, are showing early signs of implementation.

The peace committee, comprising former governors like Senator George Akume, Gabriel Suswam, and Samuel Ortom, alongside traditional rulers such as the Tor Tiv, Professor James Ayatse, and the Och’Idoma, Dr. John Elaigwu, has begun preliminary meetings in Makurdi to outline a framework for sustainable peace.

Sources within the Benue State Government confirm that the committee is engaging non-indigenes and federal officials to address land-grabbing and resource conflicts, a key driver of the violence.

The state government has also initiated steps to allocate land for ranching, as directed by Tinubu, with the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security tasked to oversee implementation, though progress remains slow due to local resistance and logistical challenges.

Security operations have intensified, with additional personnel from the Nigeria Police and military deployed to rural communities like Yelwata.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is providing relief to 6,527 displaced persons, including 1,768 females and 657 children, now in camps such as Makurdi International Market.

Blood donation drives, spurred by Tinubu’s appeal, have supported victims at Benue State University Teaching Hospital.

However, critics, including security analyst Daniel Echechofu, argue that more arrests are needed to deter perpetrators, stating, “We know them, and arrests must continue to send a signal.”

Social Democratic Party leader Prince Adewole Adebayo, while acknowledging the arrests, cautioned that without sustained action, the crisis could persist, citing 1,043 deaths in Benue from May 2023 to May 2025.

Despite these efforts, Benue remains tense, with fears of reprisal attacks during the rainy season, a peak period for grazing disputes. Governor Alia’s call for state police and a special intervention fund is under federal review, but no concrete decisions have emerged.

While the arrests and initial steps toward peace-building signal improvement, residents like Mary Iorver, a displaced farmer, remain skeptical, “We want to return to our farms, but we need more than promises.”

As the peace committee prepares for a follow-up meeting in Abuja, hopes linger if these measures will curb the decades-long violence in Benue’s North-Central region.

The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Board (CDCFIB) has invited eligible candidates to apply for full-time positions in various paramilitary agencies starting Thursday.

This was announced in a statement by the board’s Secretary, retired Maj.-Gen. Abdulmalik Jubril, on Monday in Abuja.

He encouraged those interested in joining the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, or Federal Fire Service to submit applications online via the board’s portal: https://recruitment.cdcfib.org.

“Applications should be submitted online within three weeks from the date of this publication and note that the application is absolutely free,” he said.

He stressed that candidates must apply to only one of the four agencies, as submitting multiple applications will lead to automatic disqualification.

He noted that openings are available for Superintendent, Inspectorate, and Assistant cadres.

“For Superintendent of Corrections (CONMESS 09), which is applicable to only NCoS, applicants must be holders of a Bachelor’s Degree (BSc) in medicine and surgery.

“For Assistant Superintendent I (CONPASS 09), applicable to FFS only, applicants must be holders of Degree in Law or a BSc in any of the following: Mechanical, Civil, Chemical, Water or any related field.

“For Assistant Superintendent II (CONPASS 8), applicable to NSCDC, FFS and NIS, applicants must possess a BSc or Higher National Diploma,” Jubril said.

The Secretary added that for the Inspector (CONHESS 06) position, applicants must be registered nurses or midwives, and this role is available only for NCoS, NSCDC, and FFS.

“For Assistant Inspector (CONPASS 06), applicants must be holders of National Diploma or NCE in any related field.

“For Assistant II (CONPASS 04), General duty, applicants must be holders of GVE, Ordinary level, SSCE/NECO or other equivalent with a minimum of five credits in not more than two sittings.

“For Assistant III (general duty), applicants must be holders of GCE, O level, SSCE/NECO or other equivalent with a minimum of four credits in not more than two sittings,” he said.

Jubril further outlined that mandatory requirements for the recruitment include Nigerian citizenship, relevant qualifications, medical fitness, no criminal or financial fraud records, and an age range of 18 to 35, among other criteria.

A devastating explosion rocked the Yongxing Steel Company along the Eastern Bypass in Mariri Quarters, Kano State, on Saturday, June 21, 2025, killing five people and injuring ten others. The blast, initially feared to be a terrorist attack, was caused by an unexploded ordnance (UXO) concealed among scrap metals transported from Yobe State, according to the Kano State Police Command.

The incident, which occurred around 11:30 a.m., sparked panic in the community and prompted a swift response from security and emergency services.

Kano State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, who led first responders to the scene, confirmed the casualties and provided early insights into the cause.

“I received a call that something serious had happened. When I arrived, I found that it was a suspected explosion—possibly a military mortar bomb. Fifteen people were injured, and unfortunately, five died,” Bakori told journalists.

He noted that the explosive material was likely transported by a trailer from Yobe State, but it remains unclear whether the vehicle was operated by military personnel or civilian contractors.

“Preliminary findings suggest the explosive material was being transported by a trailer, but it remains unclear whether the vehicle was carrying military personnel or contractors,” he added.

The police’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) units secured the area and recovered nine UXOs from the site, preventing further detonations.

Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Hussaini Abdullahi, clarified that the explosion resulted from a UXO, not an improvised explosive device (IED) as initially speculated.

“The UXOs had been unknowingly conveyed alongside scrap metals from Yobe State, and one of them accidentally exploded during the process of offloading,” Abdullahi said in a statement.

The explosion occurred while a truck, reportedly loaded with scrap materials from Damaturu, Yobe State, was offloading at the Chinese-owned Yongxing Steel Company.

Ibrahim Udazu, the company’s marketing manager, alerted the police, reporting injuries and requesting immediate intervention. Victims were rushed to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, where five succumbed to their injuries, and ten others are receiving treatment.

Bakori stated that it is too early to confirm whether security personnel were among the casualties, emphasizing that a comprehensive investigation is underway.

“We are working diligently to uncover the cause of the explosion and assess the full extent of the damage. More details will be made available as the investigation progresses,” he assured.

Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene, with thick smoke rising and residents fleeing in fear.

“It was like a war zone. We heard a loud bang, and everyone started running,” said Musa Ibrahim, a nearby shopkeeper.

The incident, though not linked to insurgency, heightened anxiety in Kano, a state with a history of Boko Haram attacks, including a 2024 mosque bombing in Gezawa that killed one and injured 24.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, addressing the incident, expressed sympathy for the victims’ families and called for stricter safety protocols.

“Meanwhile, the President has sympathised with the families of those killed or injured by an explosion on Saturday morning in Kano,” said his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

Tinubu tasked relevant authorities with investigating the incident to prevent future tragedies.
The Kano Police urged residents to remain calm and vigilant, providing emergency hotlines (08032419754, 08123821575, 09029292926) for reporting suspicious activities.

“The Command urges residents to go about their lawful businesses without worry,” Abdullahi stated.

The investigation continues to probe how UXOs were transported undetected across state lines, raising concerns about the handling of military ordnance in civilian areas.

This tragedy underscores the need for improved regulation of scrap metal transport and heightened security measures in northern Nigeria, where sporadic explosions remain a challenge despite efforts to curb insurgency.