Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has revealed that the recent deadly attack on Yelwata community in Benue State was aided by insiders within the local population.
Speaking at a press briefing held on June 19, 2025, at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, General Musa disclosed that some residents of Yelwata allegedly provided shelter, food, and even women to the armed assailants responsible for the killings.
He added that local informants guided the attackers to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp, where the majority of the victims were massacred.
“These criminals were harboured by members of the community. They were fed, entertained, and shown the exact location of the IDP camp. Yet, no tip-off was given to the security forces,” General Musa said.
Despite earlier intelligence reports hinting at potential threats across the state and the subsequent deployment of troops, the attackers were able to evade detection through community support and deception.
In response to the attack, President Bola Tinubu ordered a comprehensive deployment of security personnel—including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, and intelligence services—to hunt down those responsible.
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General Musa urged greater collaboration between citizens and the military, emphasizing the need for community engagement in the fight against insecurity.
“Security is everyone’s responsibility. We cannot succeed without the people’s cooperation,” he stressed.
He also raised alarm over the porous nature of Nigeria’s borders, noting the influx of illegal arms and fighters from conflict zones such as Sudan, Libya, and the Central African Republic.
“The growing instability in the Sahel is increasingly seeping into Nigeria through unmonitored borders,” he warned, calling on the Federal Government to strengthen surveillance and border control.