Benue Massacre: Some Locals Sheltered and Supported Killers — Defence Chief General Musa Alleges
In a startling revelation, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher, has accused members of the Yelwata community in Benue State of aiding and abetting the perpetrators behind the recent massacre that claimed the lives of over 100 people.
Speaking during a high-level media briefing at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, General Musa disclosed that some residents not only misled military forces with false intelligence but also actively provided shelter, food, and even women to the attackers. According to him, the assailants were strategically guided toward vulnerable locations, including an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp, resulting in widespread carnage and destruction.
“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,” Musa stated.
He emphasized that security is a collective responsibility and urged communities to remain vigilant, report suspicious movements, and cooperate with law enforcement agencies.
Despite intelligence reports suggesting potential attacks in parts of Benue, troops were allegedly diverted by false leads, only to later discover that the actual operation had been executed in Yelwata using a hit-and-run tactic. Musa lamented that the manipulation of information significantly delayed military response and worsened the humanitarian toll.
