The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has alleged that some residents of Yelwata community in Benue State misled troops and provided shelter, food, and even women to the perpetrators of the recent massacre that claimed over 100 lives.
General Musa made the revelation during an expanded media interaction at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
He accused residents of not only withholding critical information but also actively aiding the attackers.
The Defence Chief said, despite prior intelligence on possible attacks in some Benue communities, the troops were diverted by misleading reports.
He said when they arrived at the supposed targets, the real assault had already been carried out in Yelwata using a hit-and-run tactic.
He further disclosed that informants within the community played a role in directing the assailants to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Yelwata, contributing to the massive loss of lives and destruction.
Musa said, “These criminals were harboured by people in the community. They were given food. They were even given women. They were guided on where the IDP camp was located. Yet, security forces received no information.
“This is why we consistently urge communities to be vigilant and report suspicious activities. Security is everyone’s responsibility.”
The Chief of Defence Staff disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the full mobilisation of Nigeria’s national security forces to ensure those responsible for the recent killings in Yelwata, Benue State, are brought to justice.
General Musa also warned that Nigeria’s porous borders remain a growing threat, particularly as instability escalates across the Sahel region.
He expressed deep concern over the influx of arms and foreign fighters from conflict-ridden countries like Sudan, Libya, and the Central African Republic, stressing that these hostile elements are exploiting Nigeria’s vast, largely unsecured frontiers.
He advised that Nigeria should emulate Pakistan, which successfully constructed a fortified double-layer wall along its border with Afghanistan to address similar security threats.
According to the Defence Chief, Nigeria’s complex security challenges demand a “whole-of-society approach,” involving cooperation among the military, civilian institutions, and the wider public.
Brigadier-General Ibrahim Abu-Mawashi, Deputy Director of Defence Media Operations, also addressed journalists, revealing that 6,260 terrorists and criminals were neutralised during joint military operations across the country over the past two years.
He added that 14,138 suspects were arrested and 5,365 civilians rescued within the same period, with large caches of weapons and ammunition seized, including thousands of rounds and hundreds of assault rifles.
Abu-Mawashi provided a regional breakdown of the military’s achievements:
“North East: 1,246 Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents neutralised, 2,467 suspects arrested, and 1,920 civilians rescued. North West: 1,374 bandits killed, 2,160 arrested, and 3,288 hostages freed. North Central: 730 terrorists killed, 7,153 arrested, and 1,510 civilians rescued. South East (Operation Udoka): 440 terrorists neutralised and 1,677 arrested. South West: 80 criminals killed, 1,763 arrested, and 89 kidnap victims rescued.”
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