The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has revealed that some residents of Yelwata in Benue State aided the perpetrators of the recent massacre that claimed multiple lives in the community.
Speaking during an expanded press briefing at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, General Musa disclosed that locals provided shelter, food, and even women to the assailants responsible for the deadly assault.
“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,” the Defence Chief stated.
He explained that troops had earlier received intelligence about possible attacks on various locations in Benue but were misled, while the real assault unfolded in Yelwata using a “hit-and-run” strategy.
Musa also confirmed that local informants played a role by helping the attackers locate the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp, contributing to the high casualty rate.
The Defence Chief urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security agencies, stressing that “security is everyone’s responsibility.”
He added that President Bola Tinubu has ordered a full-scale deployment of national security forces to ensure that those responsible for the Yelwata killings are tracked down and brought to justice.