Vanguard News online has taken to it’s official X handle and announced that, In a damning disclosure that has sent shockwaves across the nation, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has revealed that some members of the Yelwata community in Benue State not only sheltered but also actively supported the armed assailants responsible for the recent massacre that claimed dozens of innocent lives.
Speaking during an expanded media interaction at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, General Musa painted a chilling picture of betrayal and complicity, alleging that locals provided the attackers with accommodation, food, and even women. Worse still, the criminals were guided by community informants who helped them locate the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp, turning it into a killing field.
“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 said, visibly disturbed.
The CDS further disclosed that despite prior intelligence suggesting potential attacks across various Benue communities, security operatives were misled. While troops were mobilized and dispatched to the initially indicated locations, the real assault had already occurred in Yelwata — executed swiftly in a hit-and-run style that left little room for timely intervention.
General Musa condemned the conspiracy of silence and urged communities to be more vigilant and proactive. “This is why we consistently urge communities to be vigilant and report suspicious activities. Security is everyone’s responsibility,” he emphasized.
In response to the massacre, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly ordered the full deployment of Nigeria’s security apparatus — including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, and intelligence agencies — to hunt down the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
Beyond internal sabotage, the Defence Chief raised an alarm over Nigeria’s dangerously porous borders, describing them as open gateways for the influx of arms, ammunition, and extremist fighters fleeing crisis-torn nations such as Libya, Sudan, and the Central African Republic. “We must secure our borders. What is happening in the Sahel can quickly spill into Nigeria if we do not act decisively,” he warned.
To that end, General Musa proposed drawing lessons from nations like Pakistan, which has constructed fortified double-layer border fencing to insulate itself from Afghanistan’s instability.
He extended his deepest condolences to families affected by the Yelwata killings and other attacks across the country, pledging that justice will be served. “These senseless killings weigh heavily on our hearts. We remain fully committed to restoring peace and justice to every part of Nigeria,” he stated solemnly.
The CDS concluded by underscoring the need for a “Whole-of-Society” approach to national security — one that brings together military forces, civilian institutions, and ordinary citizens in a united front against insecurity.
“This war cannot be won by the military alone. We need the support, trust, and vigilance of every Nigerian,” he said.
As investigations intensify, the revelation of local collaboration with terrorists in Benue has added a disturbing new layer to Nigeria’s security crisis — one that demands not only a military response but also a moral reckoning within communities.
PIONEER NEWS 