CDS Alleges Yelwata Residents Aided Killers in Benue Massacre, Over 100 Dead

In a striking revelation, General Christopher Musa, Nigeria’s Chief of Defense Staff, has accused some residents of Yelwata in Benue State of aiding the perpetrators behind the recent massacre that claimed over 100 lives.

“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,” the Defence Chief said during a media briefing at Defence Headquarters on Thursday, June 19.

Despite the presence of security forces in parts of Benue following intelligence of a potential attack, Musa said the perpetrators outmaneuvered them using misleading intel and a hit-and-run strategy, focusing their assault on Yelwata’s Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp.

General Musa lamented the lack of cooperation from locals, insisting that community vigilance remains key in countering such attacks.

“Security is everyone’s responsibility,” he said. “We consistently urge communities to report suspicious activity.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during a condolence visit to Benue on June 18, directed all national security agencies to find and prosecute those responsible. Backing this directive, General Musa pledged full deployment of national resources to bring the killers to justice.

The Defence Chief also raised alarm over unsecured national borders, which are increasingly exploited by foreign combatants and weapons traffickers. He mentioned the movement of armed groups from conflict zones in Sudan, Libya, and the Central African Republic into Nigeria.

“These elements are exploiting Nigeria’s vast and unmonitored frontiers,” Musa warned, urging Nigeria to adopt border security practices like those used in Pakistan.

In a detailed breakdown, Brigadier-General Ibrahim Abu-Mawashi, Deputy Director of Defence Media Operations, revealed that the military has eliminated 6,260 terrorists and criminals in joint operations over the past two years. He also reported:

• 5,365 civilians rescued

• 14,138 suspects arrested

Regional Breakdown of Operations

Niger Delta:

• ₦83 billion worth of stolen crude recovered

• 103 criminals killed

• 2,760 suspects arrested

North East (Boko Haram/ISWAP):

• 1,246 terrorists killed

• 2,467 arrested

• 1,920 civilians rescued

North West:

• 1,374 bandits neutralized

• 2,160 arrested

• 3,288 hostages freed

North Central:

• 730 terrorists killed

• 7,153 arrested

• 1,510 civilians rescued

South East (Operation Udoka):

• 440 terrorists killed

• 1,677 arrested

South West:

• 80 criminals killed

• 1,763 arrested

• 89 kidnap victims rescued

Brigadier-General Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, reiterated the military's focus on transparency and public engagement. He said the Defence Chief’s leadership promotes a “people-centric” Armed Forces built on trust and community collaboration.