Sh*cking Betrayal: Benue Villagers Allegedly Fed, Sheltered Killers – CDS Musa Reveals

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has accused some members of the Yelwata community in Benue State of colluding with armed assailants responsible for the recent mass killings in the area.

General Musa made this revelation on Thursday during an extensive media briefing held at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.

According to him, certain locals acted as informants and actively supported the attackers by providing them with accommodation, meals, and even women. He further alleged that these individuals guided the assailants to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Yelwata, enabling them to carry out the attack undetected.

The Defence Chief explained that troops had been mobilised following intelligence on planned attacks across Benue communities. However, the information proved deceptive, as the real assault had already occurred in Yelwata using a hit-and-run strategy.

“These criminals were sheltered by residents. They were fed, offered women, and shown the exact location of the IDP camp. Yet, we received no alert from the community,” General Musa lamented.

He noted that, on the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the full spectrum of Nigeria’s national security apparatus — including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, and intelligence services — has been deployed to track down the perpetrators and ensure justice is served.

General Musa appealed to citizens to recognize that security is a shared duty, not the sole responsibility of the armed forces.

“We constantly urge communities to stay alert and report suspicious behavior. National security is a collective responsibility,” he emphasized.

Addressing wider concerns, the CDS also urged the federal government to take swift action in tackling Nigeria’s porous borders. He warned that insurgents from conflict-ridden nations such as Sudan, Libya, and the Central African Republic are increasingly infiltrating the country through these unmonitored entry points.

He suggested that Nigeria could learn from Pakistan, which constructed a fortified double-wall border to effectively separate itself from Afghanistan.

Offering his condolences, General Musa expressed deep sorrow for the lives lost in Yelwata and other affected areas, and reassured Nigerians of the military’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives and restoring peace nationwide.

“These senseless killings are heartbreaking. We are resolute in our mission to deliver justice and ensure peace across the country,” he concluded.