Benue Massacre: Locals Sheltered Killers, Fed Them Defence Chief Alleges
ABUJA, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has accused residents of Yelwata, Benue State, of aiding the perpetrators behind the recent massacre that claimed over 100 lives. Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, the Defence Chief alleged that locals provided food, shelter, and even women to the killers, while also revealing the location of a nearby IDP camp to them.
The accusation comes amid growing outrage over the deteriorating security situation in Benue and other parts of the country, with many demanding accountability and urgent reform of national security strategy.
“These criminals were harboured by people in the community. They were given food and women. They were guided to the IDP camp, yet security forces received no actionable tip-offs,” Gen. Musa said.
He stressed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered a nationwide security crackdown, with instructions to identify and bring the perpetrators of the Yelwata killings to justice.
Failed Intelligence and Hit-and-Run Tactics
General Musa disclosed that although troops were deployed based on intelligence about potential attacks in various communities, the information proved misleading. The actual assault, he said, was executed swiftly in Yelwata using guerrilla tactics.
He warned that Nigeria’s porous borders have enabled the unchecked influx of weapons and foreign fighters from conflict-ridden countries such as Sudan, Libya, and the Central African Republic.
“Our vast and unguarded frontiers are being exploited by regional militants and arms traffickers. We must learn from countries like Pakistan, which fortified its borders with Afghanistan,” he urged.
Defence Operations: 6,260 Terrorists Killed in Two Years
In the same briefing, Brigadier-General Ibrahim Abu-Mawashi, Deputy Director of Defence Media Operations, reported that 6,260 terrorists and criminals were neutralized in joint military operations over the past two years.
He also disclosed that 14,138 suspects were arrested, and 5,365 civilians rescued. Weapons and ammunition recovered during the period include thousands of rounds and hundreds of assault rifles.
Regional Breakdown of Military Operations:
North East: 1,246 terrorists killed, 2,467 arrested, 1,920 civilians rescued
North West: 1,374 bandits killed, 2,160 arrested, 3,288 hostages freed
North Central: 730 terrorists killed, 7,153 arrested, 1,510 civilians rescued
South East: 440 terrorists killed, 1,677 arrested
South West: 80 criminals killed, 1,763 arrested
Niger Delta: ₦83 billion in stolen crude recovered, 103 criminals killed
‘Whole-of-Society’ Security Approach Needed
Both Gen. Musa and Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, reiterated that military efforts must be backed by civilian cooperation. The Chief of Defence Staff emphasized that mistrust between the military and communities is impeding operational success.
“The military is often seen as an occupying force rather than a national institution. This perception must change,” Musa stated during the maiden Defence Headquarters Civil-Military Relations Conference.
FG Must Declare Benue Killings as Terrorism Analyst
Meanwhile, security analyst and lawyer Bulama Bukarti has called on the federal government to classify the Benue killings as acts of terrorism rather than communal clashes.
“This isn’t a farmer-herder crisis anymore. It’s organized, it’s targeted, and it has all the characteristics of terrorism,” Bukarti said in a Channels Television interview. He warned that downplaying the attacks could embolden the perpetrators and prolong the conflict.
Bukarti noted that more than 400 people have been killed in Benue State in the past three months, describing the scale of the violence as a national emergency requiring a stronger legal and tactical response.
Bomb Factory Destroyed in Borno
Separately, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) reported a successful airstrike on a bomb-making facility in Borno State, dealing a significant blow to the logistics network of terrorist groups in the Northeast.
Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame stated that the operation followed intelligence-led surveillance and resulted in the destruction of vehicles and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in precision strikes.
“This strike disrupted their command structure, diminished morale, and hindered future operations,” Ejodame said.
Closing Gap Between Military and Civilians
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, acknowledged the deep-seated mistrust between the military and civilians, noting that such divides hamper national unity.
“The Armed Forces are not a foreign force. They belong to the people. Nigerians must reclaim that ownership,” the Minister declared.
As Benue reels from its latest tragedy, experts insist that real solutions must go beyond military firepower. Intelligence reform, border control, and genuine community engagement are increasingly viewed as the pillars for sustainable peace.
Reference
Benue Massacre: Locals Sheltered Killers, Fed Them Defence Chief Alleges