Makurdi, June 19, 2025 – Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has alleged that some residents of Benue State may have aided recent attackers by providing them shelter, food, and women, in the aftermath of brutal assaults on farming communities in the state.
The claim was made during a closed-door security meeting with community leaders and top security officials in Makurdi, where the Defence Chief expressed concern over what he described as possible internal collaboration fueling the cycle of violence. The statement comes days after a deadly raid on Yelewata village in Guma Local Government Area, which left scores dead and properties destroyed.
General Musa stated that intelligence reports and field feedback indicated that some communities might be offering support—wittingly or otherwise—to the perpetrators, allowing them to regroup and launch further attacks. He warned that such actions, if confirmed, amount to a betrayal of national peace efforts and would not be tolerated.
He called for deeper collaboration between the military, traditional institutions, and local vigilantes to flush out criminal elements operating under the guise of community ties. Stressing the importance of unity, he urged communities to rise above ethnic and political divisions in confronting the shared threat of violence.
“We cannot afford to be divided in the face of common enemies,” the CDS warned. “There is no justification for shielding those who take innocent lives. The people must work with security agencies to identify and isolate all threats.”
The recent attack in Yelewata, widely condemned across the country, left dozens of villagers dead and hundreds displaced, with farmlands and homes razed. Survivors have since fled to nearby towns, raising fresh concerns about the growing humanitarian crisis in the region.
As the military intensifies its operations in the area, General Musa assured that troops had been directed to take swift and decisive action against all armed elements threatening peace in the North Central region. He also urged civilians to provide timely intelligence and support ongoing efforts to secure their communities.
Community leaders in attendance pledged their cooperation, though some appealed for caution, insisting that not all residents should be painted with the same brush. They urged security operatives to act with precision, respecting the rights of law-abiding citizens while dealing firmly with confirmed threats.
The Defence Chief’s remarks underscore the complex nature of the security crisis in Benue, where longstanding communal tensions, land disputes, and organized criminal activity continue to test the capacity of the state to protect its people.
