Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has made disturbing revelations concerning the recent mass killing in Yelewata, Benue State, where over 200 civilians reportedly lost their lives. Speaking during a media briefing at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) in Abuja, General Musa disclosed that the massacre was enabled by local informants who aided the attackers.
According to the CDS, troops received intelligence suggesting that armed herders were heading toward several communities in Benue. Responding swiftly, the military mobilized and deployed forces to those locations. However, upon arrival, they discovered the intelligence was inaccurate—the actual attack took place elsewhere.
General Musa lamented the failure of local residents to cooperate with security agencies. He alleged that some members of the affected communities provided shelter, food, and even women to the attackers before the assault. He further revealed that these local collaborators gave away detailed information about the internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Yelewata, which contributed to the high number of casualties.
He emphasized:
> “The criminals were given accommodation in the community. They were given food to eat. They were even given women before the attacks, yet the security agencies were not informed. How did they know about the IDP Camp and the location in that community? They were teleguided by some persons in that community.”
Responding to the tragedy, General Musa affirmed that following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive, all branches of the military—Army, Navy, and Air Force—along with other security agencies, have been tasked with apprehending the perpetrators.
He expressed his condolences to the families and communities affected by the Benue attacks and other violence across Nigeria, stating:
> “We especially grieve with the nation over the tragic losses in Yelewata and other affected areas in both the southern and northern regions. These senseless acts of violence weigh heavily on our hearts.”
He reiterated the Armed Forces’ commitment to justice, peace, and national stability, while calling for a unified national effort through the “Whole-of-Society Approach,” involving collaboration between security agencies, government institutions, and the citizenry.
On border security, General Musa raised concerns about Nigeria’s porous frontiers, which he said have become gateways for arms dealers, terrorists, and bandits fleeing from crisis-ridden Sahel countries like Sudan, Libya, and the Central African Republic. He advocated for stronger border protection, citing Pakistan’s border wall with Afghanistan as a model Nigeria should consider despite potential costs.
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Military Achievements in National Security Operations:
Also speaking during the briefing, the Deputy Director of Defence Media Operations, Brigadier-General Ibrahim Abu-Mawashi, highlighted the scope and successes of military operations across the country over the past two years.
Key statistics from joint military operations include:
Total terrorists and criminals neutralized: 6,260
Suspects arrested: 14,138
Civilians rescued: 5,365
Regional Breakdown:
North-East:
1,246 terrorists (Boko Haram/ISWAP) killed
2,467 arrested
1,920 civilians rescued
982 weapons and 2,153 rounds of ammunition recovered
North-West (Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto):
1,374 bandits killed, including top commanders
2,160 arrested
3,288 hostages rescued
947 weapons and 25,802 rounds of ammunition recovered
North-Central:
730 terrorists and criminals killed
7,153 arrested
1,510 civilians rescued
1,065 weapons and 19,709 rounds of ammunition recovered
Niger Delta:
₦83 billion worth of stolen crude and petroleum recovered
103 criminals killed
2,760 suspects arrested
266 civilians rescued
South-East (Operation Udoka):
440 terrorists neutralized
1,677 criminals arrested
294 civilians rescued
683 weapons and 21,300 rounds of ammunition recovered
South-West:
80 criminals killed
1,763 arrested
89 kidnap victims rescued
143 weapons and 177,904 rounds of ammunition recovered
Director of Defence Information, Brigadier-General Tukur Gusau, concluded the event by reaffirming the Armed Forces’ commitment to a “people-centric” approach in national security. He stressed the importance of keeping the Nigerian public accurately informed and engaged in the fight against insecurity.
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has made disturbing revelations concerning the recent mass killing in Yelewata, Benue State, where over 200 civilians reportedly lost their lives. Speaking during a media briefing at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) in Abuja, General Musa disclosed that the massacre was enabled by local informants who aided the attackers.
According to the CDS, troops received intelligence suggesting that armed herders were heading toward several communities in Benue. Responding swiftly, the military mobilized and deployed forces to those locations. However, upon arrival, they discovered the intelligence was inaccurate—the actual attack took place elsewhere.
General Musa lamented the failure of local residents to cooperate with security agencies. He alleged that some members of the affected communities provided shelter, food, and even women to the attackers before the assault. He further revealed that these local collaborators gave away detailed information about the internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Yelewata, which contributed to the high number of casualties.
He emphasized:
> “The criminals were given accommodation in the community. They were given food to eat. They were even given women before the attacks, yet the security agencies were not informed. How did they know about the IDP Camp and the location in that community? They were teleguided by some persons in that community.”
Responding to the tragedy, General Musa affirmed that following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive, all branches of the military—Army, Navy, and Air Force—along with other security agencies, have been tasked with apprehending the perpetrators.
He expressed his condolences to the families and communities affected by the Benue attacks and other violence across Nigeria, stating:
> “We especially grieve with the nation over the tragic losses in Yelewata and other affected areas in both the southern and northern regions. These senseless acts of violence weigh heavily on our hearts.”
He reiterated the Armed Forces’ commitment to justice, peace, and national stability, while calling for a unified national effort through the “Whole-of-Society Approach,” involving collaboration between security agencies, government institutions, and the citizenry.
On border security, General Musa raised concerns about Nigeria’s porous frontiers, which he said have become gateways for arms dealers, terrorists, and bandits fleeing from crisis-ridden Sahel countries like Sudan, Libya, and the Central African Republic. He advocated for stronger border protection, citing Pakistan’s border wall with Afghanistan as a model Nigeria should consider despite potential costs.
—
Military Achievements in National Security Operations:
Also speaking during the briefing, the Deputy Director of Defence Media Operations, Brigadier-General Ibrahim Abu-Mawashi, highlighted the scope and successes of military operations across the country over the past two years.
Key statistics from joint military operations include:
Total terrorists and criminals neutralized: 6,260
Suspects arrested: 14,138
Civilians rescued: 5,365
Regional Breakdown:
North-East:
1,246 terrorists (Boko Haram/ISWAP) killed
2,467 arrested
1,920 civilians rescued
982 weapons and 2,153 rounds of ammunition recovered
North-West (Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto):
1,374 bandits killed, including top commanders
2,160 arrested
3,288 hostages rescued
947 weapons and 25,802 rounds of ammunition recovered
North-Central:
730 terrorists and criminals killed
7,153 arrested
1,510 civilians rescued
1,065 weapons and 19,709 rounds of ammunition recovered
Niger Delta:
₦83 billion worth of stolen crude and petroleum recovered
103 criminals killed
2,760 suspects arrested
266 civilians rescued
South-East (Operation Udoka):
440 terrorists neutralized
1,677 criminals arrested
294 civilians rescued
683 weapons and 21,300 rounds of ammunition recovered
South-West:
80 criminals killed
1,763 arrested
89 kidnap victims rescued
143 weapons and 177,904 rounds of ammunition recovered
Director of Defence Information, Brigadier-General Tukur Gusau, concluded the event by reaffirming the Armed Forces’ commitment to a “people-centric” approach in national security. He stressed the importance of keeping the Nigerian public accurately informed and engaged in the fight against insecurity.
