Wednesday’s town hall meeting in Benue State between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and various stakeholders, held in the wake of the horrific killing of over 100 people in Yelwata community of Guma Local Government Area on June 14, 2025, has reignited discussions about accountability in Nigeria’s security apparatus. The scale of the Yelwata atrocity, which saw the displacement of many and drew national and international condemnation, prompted the President to issue an unusually direct challenge to his top security officials.

President Tinubu publicly questioned the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, asking, “How come no one has been arrested for committing this heinous crime in Yelwata? Inspector General of Police, where are the arrests? The criminals must be arrested immediately.” This assertive stance drew parallels to an infamous incident in October 1986, when then-military president General Ibrahim Babangida publicly queried Inspector General Etim Inyang about the notorious armed robber Lawrence Anini, whose eventual apprehension under a new IGP, Muhammad Gambo Jimeta, underscored a turning point in security efforts. Expectations are now high that similar decisive action will follow President Tinubu’s directive.

Barely two days after the President’s visit, the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) in Makurdi confirmed the deployment of additional land assets to combat insecurity in the North Central states. Force Commander Major General Moses Gara, receiving the consignment, stated that this reflects the Defence Headquarters’ commitment to fostering synergy among military and security agencies. Lieutenant Ahmad Zubair, OPWS acting Media Information Officer, elaborated that the newly received assets, including Troops-Carrying Vehicles (TCVs), Gun Trucks, Personal Protective Equipment, and over 100 motorcycles, are aimed at boosting tactical agility, force protection, and overall combat readiness against persistent asymmetric threats in the region.

The President’s visit and his pronouncements have elicited mixed reactions from residents and analysts. Some found his order to the security chiefs to sound