Yelwata massacre: Residents gave attackers food, shelter, women – CDS

The 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 attackers responsible for the recent massacre in Yelwata community.

General Musa made the revelation during a media briefing at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, following the deadly assault that claimed dozens of lives.

He stated that local informants aided the assailants by disclosing the location of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Yelwata, contributing to the high casualty rate.

“These criminals were accommodated by people in the community. They were given food, they were even given women, and guided on where the IDP camp was located. Yet, security forces received no tip-off,” Musa said.

According to him, security agencies had earlier received intelligence on planned attacks across other communities in the state and were deployed accordingly. However, the attackers diverted attention and struck Yelwata using a hit-and-run tactic.

General Musa added 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 bring them to justice.

He appealed to communities to remain vigilant and cooperate with security forces, stressing that “security is a collective duty.”

The CDS also raised concerns over Nigeria’s porous borders, noting that fighters and arms continue to flow into the country from conflict zones like Libya, Sudan, and the Central African Republic. He urged the Federal Government to urgently address the issue and study Pakistan’s double-layer border wall as a possible model.

General Musa extended his condolences to the victims of the Yelwata massacre and other communities affected by violence, reiterating the military’s commitment to peace.

“These killings are heartbreaking. We are fully committed to tracking down those responsible and bringing lasting peace to all corners of Nigeria,” he said, emphasizing the need for a “Whole-of-Society” approach involving both civilians and security institutions.