The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has alleged that some residents of Benue State provided food, shelter, and other forms of support to the armed men who carried out the recent massacre in Yelwata community.
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Speaking during an expanded media briefing at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, General Musa claimed that certain individuals within the local population also offered women to the attackers and guided them to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp, where many lives were lost.
He expressed disappointment that, despite prior intelligence and the deployment of security personnel, the attackers successfully carried out the assault using deceptive tactics. He added that no tip-off was received ahead of the incident, even though some community members were allegedly aware of the plan.
In response to the killings, President Bola Tinubu has ordered a full-scale deployment of security forces to track down those responsible for the attack.
General Musa emphasized the need for public cooperation with security agencies, warning that efforts to combat insecurity will remain limited without the support of the people. “Security is a collective responsibility,” he said.
He also urged the Federal Government to tighten border control, warning that the influx of arms and fighters from conflict-ridden neighboring countries continues to pose a serious threat to Nigeria’s internal stability.
According to him, the instability in the Sahel region is spilling into Nigeria through unmonitored routes, and if not urgently addressed, it could further destabilize the country.
