Benue killings: “The military can’t do it alone” – CDS to engage youths as vigilantes
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, speaks on Benue killings.
In response to the persistent wave of violent attacks in Benue State, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has advocated for the training of trusted local youths to serve as vigilantes under the direct supervision of the military. The move, he stated, is aimed at safeguarding communities and restoring peace in the troubled region.
Speaking during a strategic meeting with traditional rulers in Makurdi, General Musa explained that this community-based approach had proven effective in Borno State and would now be replicated in Benue. He stressed that combating terrorism required collaboration between the military and local communities.
“The military cannot do it alone,” he said. “We need the full cooperation of the communities, their leaders, and the clergy. Some of the attacks clearly show insider knowledge, and that’s why we need a united front. We are tired of innocent souls being killed. We’re here to ensure it stops.”
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Benue State has suffered intense bloodshed in recent months, with over 160 people reportedly killed in a two-month period. The most recent incident occurred last Friday in Yelewata, where at least 59 residents were killed in a brutal overnight raid, displacing more than 3,000 people.
In a show of solidarity, Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, visited his Benue counterpart, Governor Hyacinth Alia, to express condolences and presented a donation of ₦150 million to support internally displaced persons. He urged both states to forge a united front to end the violence.
The killings have sparked national outrage and global concern. Pope Leo XIV described the situation as a “terrible massacre,” while President Bola Tinubu has ordered swift and decisive action. He tasked Governor Alia with initiating reconciliation between farmers and herders and instructed the nation’s service chiefs to bring the crisis to an end.
General Musa and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, also visited the affected areas, directing field commanders to reassess their strategies and take firm action against the perpetrators.
