Benue Massacre: Locals Aided Attackers With Shelter And Supplies, Alleges Defence Chief.
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has alleged that some residents of Yelwata, a community in Benue State’s Guma Local Government Area, provided shelter, food, and even women to armed assailants responsible for a recent massacre that claimed over 150 lives. The claims were made during a media briefing at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, highlighting a disturbing level of local complicity in the attack.
The devastating assault on Yelwata, which occurred in the early hours of 14 June 2025, targeted an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp, leaving a trail of destruction with entire families burnt alive and homes reduced to ashes. According to General Musa, local informants guided the attackers to the precise location of the IDP camp, enabling a swift and deadly hit-and-run operation. “These criminals were harboured by people in the community. They were given food, they were even given women, and they were guided to where the IDP camp was located. Yet, security forces received no information,” Musa stated, expressing frustration over the lack of community cooperation.
The CDS revealed that security forces had acted on intelligence about potential attacks across Benue State, deploying troops to various locations. However, misleading information led them to incorrect sites, allowing the attackers to strike Yelwata unimpeded. “We mobilised based on the intelligence we received, but it turned out to be faulty. By the time we realised, the attack had already happened,” he explained.
The massacre, described by local clergy and Amnesty International as a “genocidal” act, saw over 40 gunmen, reportedly shouting “Allahu Akbar,” set fire to buildings and attack residents with machetes. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reported that more than 6,500 people were displaced, with dozens injured and at least 20 later succumbing to their wounds in hospital.
General Musa called for urgent action to address Nigeria’s porous borders, citing the influx of arms and fighters from conflict-ridden nations like Sudan and Libya as a growing threat. He suggested adopting measures like Pakistan’s double-layer border wall to curb cross-border attacks. “We cannot wait for these attackers to strike first. We must go after them,” he asserted, vowing to pursue justice for the victims.
President Bola Tinubu, who visited Benue on Wednesday, ordered the full deployment of military and intelligence forces to apprehend the perpetrators. The state government has declared a public holiday on 18 June to mark the President’s visit and has set up a five-man panel to investigate the crisis and propose solutions.
The allegations of local collaboration have sparked outrage and disbelief among community leaders. Maurice Orwough, Chairman of Guma Local Government Area, described the CDS’s visit as a “powerful gesture” that offers hope, but stressed the need for greater trust between communities and security forces. “Security is everyone’s responsibility. We need communities to be vigilant and report suspicious activities,” Musa urged.
Amnesty International has criticised the Nigerian government’s failure to curb the violence, warning that the ongoing attacks threaten food security, as many victims are farmers. The rights group called for immediate action to end the “almost daily bloodshed” in Benue.
As investigations continue, the people of Yelwata mourn their losses, with local priest Father Ukuma Jonathan Angbianbee describing the scene as “truly gruesome.” The tragedy has reignited calls for stronger security measures and community cooperation to prevent further atrocities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.