The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has made a shocking revelation, alleging that certain individuals within Benue State provided support, including shelter, food, and even women to the armed assailants who carried out the recent massacre in Yelwata community.
Speaking during a media briefing at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, General Musa disclosed that local informants also guided the attackers by revealing the precise location of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Yelwata, a move that significantly contributed to the high casualty rate.
“These criminals were accommodated by people in the community. They were given food, they were even given women, and guided on where the IDP camp was located. Yet, security forces received no tip-off,” the CDS stated.
He explained that troops had earlier received intelligence about potential attacks in multiple communities across Benue, leading to pre-emptive deployments. However, the information was a deliberate diversion, allowing the attackers to strike Yelwata using a swift hit-and-run tactic.
In response to the killings, President Bola Tinubu has ordered the full mobilization of Nigeria’s security forces, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, and intelligence services to track down and bring the perpetrators to justice.
General Musa urged communities to remain vigilant and collaborate actively with security agencies, emphasizing that national security is a shared responsibility. “This is why we constantly appeal to communities to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities. Security is a collective duty,” he said.
Highlighting broader security concerns, the CDS called on the Federal Government to urgently secure Nigeria’s porous borders, which he described as a major entry point for arms and foreign fighters from conflict-prone nations such as Sudan, Libya, and the Central African Republic.
He recommended that Nigeria study Pakistan’s approach to border security, noting the effectiveness of its fortified double-layer wall along the Afghanistan border.
Offering his condolences to the victims of the Yelwata massacre and other affected communities, General Musa reaffirmed the military’s commitment to restoring peace across the country. “These killings are heartbreaking. We are fully committed to tracking down those responsible and bringing lasting peace to all corners of Nigeria,” he said.
The CDS also advocated for a “Whole-of-Society” approach, calling for greater synergy between the armed forces, civil institutions, and local communities in tackling insecurity nationwide.
