The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has alleged the presence of saboteurs within the Nigerian military, implicating them in the Yelwata massacre in Benue State that claimed over 200 lives.
Recall that in May 2025, during a television interview, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum declared: “We have informants and collaborators within the Nigerian armed forces, within the politicians, and within the communities.
“What we shall do is to strengthen our intelligence and to deal with them ruthlessly.”
He added: “Let’s remove contractocracy. In six months, we can put an end to this madness. We need not politicise insecurity.”
Speaking during a visit to Yelwata to assess the destruction caused by last Saturday’s attack, Gen. Musa disclosed that some military personnel have been betraying the army by leaking vital information to bandits.
“This is one killing too many. From here, I am going to see my commanders. We need to change our strategy, look inward, and see how we can address this.
“We can’t do it alone without the state; we need everybody to be part of it,” he said.
Musa further pointed out that the targeted nature of the killings and arson suggests insider involvement.
“If you see the pattern of killings and slaughtering, it means there is an insider. As we were going round, it became obvious that the killing and burnings were targeted.
“I have discussed with the community and traditional rulers as well as clan heads for us to work in synergy.
“There have been issues of trust, but we are going to work on it,” he added.
This came as President Bola Tinubu adjusted his official itinerary, prioritising a visit to Makurdi, the Benue State capital, over his planned trip to Kaduna.
The decision follows the surge in violent attacks across rural communities in Benue, which have resulted in loss of lives, property destruction, and heightened regional tensions.
The Presidency announced that the visit, scheduled for tomorrow, underscores Tinubu’s commitment to fostering peace, promoting reconciliation, and finding lasting solutions to the protracted conflict in the state.
During his visit, the President is expected to engage with various stakeholders, including traditional rulers, political and religious leaders, civil society representatives, community heads, and youth groups.
A special town hall meeting has been organised to facilitate consensus-building on the way forward.
In preparation for the visit, a high-powered delegation led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, has already arrived in Benue.
The team includes the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; heads of intelligence and security agencies; and the Chairmen of the Senate and House Committees on Defence.
The Presidency noted that the visit would enable the President to conduct a firsthand assessment of the humanitarian and security challenges, particularly in affected local government areas where thousands of residents have been displaced by the violence.
Details of President Tinubu’s itinerary, including specific locations and the structure of the stakeholder engagement sessions, were not disclosed at press time.
Tinubu insists on state police to tackle Nigeria’s security challenges
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called for urgent constitutional reforms to overhaul Nigeria’s national security architecture, stating that the current framework is insufficient to address the country’s complex security challenges.
The President made this remark yesterday during a one-day legislative dialogue on the constitutional review of national security architecture, organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Tinubu argued for moving policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List, enabling states to assume greater responsibility for local security, while maintaining national oversight.
Represented by the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, he emphasised the need to align Nigeria’s security framework with present-day realities, cautioning that neither full centralisation nor outright fragmentation can adequately guarantee national safety.
“The debate over state police is no longer theoretical,” the President said.
“It is grounded in the daily fears and lived anxieties of Nigerians: farmers afraid to tend their fields, traders unsure of safe passage, and communities abandoned to self-help.
“This dialogue must courageously interrogate the constitutional shifts required to move policing from the Exclusive List to the Concurrent List, enabling states with capacity to assume greater responsibility for their own security while preserving national cohesion.
“We must learn from global best practices, adapting decentralised policing models that enhance local accountability without sacrificing national oversight,” he added.
NGF: Tragedy a grievous affront to human dignity, must be condemned
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has condemned the attack on Yelwata in the Guma Local Council of Benue State.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who is also the governor of Kwara State, the forum described the attack as a grievous affront to human dignity.
“The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), under the leadership of His Excellency AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Executive Governor of Kwara State and Chairman of the Forum, extends its profound condolences to Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, the Government and people of Benue State, regarding the devastating attack on the communities of Yelwata and Daudu in Guma Local Council of Benue State,” the statement read.
“This heinous act represents a grievous affront to human dignity and must be unequivocally condemned.
“The Nigeria Governors’ Forum stands in unwavering solidarity with the bereaved families and the State Government at this time of profound sorrow,” AbdulRazaq added.
The forum also prayed for the peaceful repose of the deceased, comfort for the grieving families, recovery for the injured, and resilience for survivors.
It pledged full cooperation with Benue State and relevant authorities to restore peace and security.
The NGF further called on Nigerians to denounce such acts of brutality and work collectively towards fostering a nation rooted in peace, justice, and mutual respect.
Sultan, CAN censure renewed killings, call for proactive security measures
The apex Islamic body in the North, Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), led by its President-General, Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has expressed deep concern and pain over the renewed attacks and killings in Benue State.
In a statement issued yesterday by JNI Secretary General, Prof Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, the Sultan lamented the spate of gruesome killings and bloodletting in parts of Benue, where scores of innocent and defenceless citizens have been unjustly massacred.
The Sultan queried: “For how long would such senseless killings continue to occur on Nigerian soil? Why has it remained so difficult for security agencies to preempt such catastrophic occurrences in our national lives?”
He said, “Nonetheless, JNI unequivocally condemns the dastardly and barbaric act in its totality. It is inhumane, ungodly, and a complete betrayal of our common values as human beings.”
The Sultan emphasised the sanctity of human life, citing Qur’an 5:32, which states:
“Whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption (done) in the land – it is as if he had slain mankind entirely.” He remarked that such killings are unacceptable in a supposedly democratic and civilised society, where human lives are exterminated with impunity and without timely justice against perpetrators.
While appreciating the efforts of security agencies, the JNI expressed displeasure at their often-reactive posture. “It has become a recurring pattern for security operatives to arrive only after the damage has been done,” the statement read. “Such acts embolden the perpetrators and dampen the morale of innocent citizens. Security must be intelligence-driven, proactive, and prompt to avert future recurrences.”
The Sultan called on stakeholders, including government at all levels, religious bodies, civil society organisations, and community leaders, to work together sincerely to end the repeated avoidable carnage.
“Enough is enough. Our collective silence or indifference may only serve to embolden the enemies of peace and national unity in Nigeria,” the statement concluded.
