In a startling revelation, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has alleged that some residents of Benue State provided shelter, food, and even women to the armed assailants responsible for the recent massacre in Yelwata community, Guma Local Government Area.
Speaking during a high-level media briefing at Defence Headquarters in Abuja, General Musa disclosed that local informants also guided the attackers to the location of an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp, contributing to the devastating death toll. Over 200 lives were reportedly lost in the brutal assault.
“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,” General Musa stated.
The CDS emphasized that President Bola Tinubu has ordered the full mobilization of Nigeria’s security architecture—including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, and intelligence agencies—to apprehend the perpetrators and restore peace to the region.
He further warned of the dangers posed by Nigeria’s porous borders, citing the influx of arms and fighters from conflict-ridden nations such as Sudan, Libya, and the Central African Republic. General Musa urged the Federal Government to adopt a more fortified border strategy, referencing Pakistan’s double-layer wall along its border with Afghanistan as a potential model.
Offering condolences to the victims and their families, the Defence Chief reaffirmed the military’s commitment to justice and peace. “These senseless killings weigh heavily on our hearts. We remain fully committed to ensuring justice and restoring peace to every part of Nigeria,” he said.