DHQ Denies Military Sabotage in Yelwata Massacre
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has denied allegations suggesting that internal sabotage within the Nigerian military played a role in the recent massacre in Yelwata, a community in Benue State that has been gripped by deadly violence.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, described the claims as “unfounded” and “not supported by credible evidence.”
The DHQ reiterated that the Nigerian Armed Forces remain committed to their constitutional responsibility of protecting civilian lives and securing troubled communities across the country.
“The attention of the Defence Headquarters has been drawn to recent claims suggesting that internal sabotage within the Nigerian military contributed to the tragic events in Yelwata. These claims are baseless and misleading,” the statement read.
Similarly, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, had earlier distanced the military from the killings.
He reaffirmed the stance in the new statement, insisting that the military had no involvement in the Yelwata attack. “There is no credible evidence to substantiate claims of internal sabotage,” he emphasized.
Read Also:
Independent investigations by human rights organizations and civil society groups, the DHQ said, have not found any link between the military and the perpetrators of the violence. The statement emphasized that the tragedy in Yelwata reflects the broader crisis of intercommunal clashes in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, often driven by longstanding disputes over land use, grazing rights, and ethnic tensions.
“The violence in Yelwata is part of a broader pattern of intercommunal conflict between farmers and herders. While the military has been deployed to maintain peace, the root causes of the violence lie in complex socio-economic and political factors,” the statement noted.
The military high command cautioned that pointing fingers at the military without evidence distracts from the real issues and undermines efforts to find lasting solutions to the crisis. “Attributing the Yelwata massacre to internal sabotage within the Nigerian military is misleading and detracts from the real issues at play,” Brigadier General Gusau added.
General Musa also called for stronger collaboration between local communities and security agencies. He urged residents not to shield criminals but to support joint efforts aimed at restoring law and order.
“We need a holistic approach to resolve the crisis,” the CDS said. “Communities must work closely with security agencies, stop harbouring criminals, and trust that the military and other forces are here to protect law-abiding citizens.”
By PRNigeria
