Defence Chief Visits Benue, Orders Military Action to Protect Civilians
In the wake of one of the most heartbreaking waves of violence to hit Benue State in recent times, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, has led a high-level intervention aimed at restoring peace and renewing the confidence of a grieving people.
The Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, disclosed this information in a press statement signed and issued today in Abuja.
The Defence Chief’s two-day assessment visit came after a brutal attack in Yelwata community, which left scores dead and displaced many. The visit was not just symbolic—it was strategic, urgent, and emotional.
Speaking directly to survivors, traditional rulers, and religious leaders during an interactive session, General Musa did not mince words. “These killings are senseless and must stop,” he said, describing the violence as a tragedy that demands collective resolve. He urged communities to unite with security agencies in a common mission to uproot criminal elements threatening the soul of the state.
Read Also:
The weight of the tragedy was also felt by the Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, who joined the Defence Chief and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, during the tour. Governor Alia called the recent bloodshed “tragic and unnecessary,” expressing anguish over the toll it has taken on his people. Yet, he commended the presence of the military and police, saying their swift intervention rekindles hope for survival and continuous living.
The Inspector General of Police reinforced this commitment. “Security agencies will not rest until every perpetrator is brought to justice,” Egbetokun vowed, assuring residents that the mission goes beyond arrests—it is about building lasting peace.
On the second day, the Defence Chief convened a town hall meeting with stakeholders from Benue’s three geopolitical zones. In a packed hall filled with first-class traditional rulers, youth leaders, and influential voices, General Musa made an emotional appeal: “We must move forward as one people. The military alone cannot do this. Together, we can rebuild trust and restore peace.”
He also received operational briefings from commanders under Operation Whirl Stroke at the 401 Special Forces Brigade Headquarters. He directed them to scale up protection of lives and property, and to work more closely with locals in finding enduring solutions to insecurity.
According Brigadier General Gusau, the Chief of Defence Staff stressed the importance of community collaboration in combating criminality. He reiterated that law-abiding citizens must be protected and criminal elements rooted out through unified efforts between security forces and local stakeholders.
General Musa’s visit may have lasted two days, but for the people of Benue, it offered a glimmer of hope that the days of bloodshed may soon give way to healing—and that the nation’s highest-ranking security officers are not just watching from afar, but walking side by side with them in their pain, and in their pursuit of peace.
By PRNigeria
