The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has announced that security operatives have arrested some suspects involved in the killing of about 200 residents in Yelewata, a community in Benue State. Musa stated that investigations are ongoing with the DSS and the police, and actions have been taken to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.
The CDS described the Benue killings as a complex mix of terrorism, banditry, land grabbing, reprisal killings, and political manipulation, rather than a simple farmer-herder crisis. He also highlighted the military’s war against terrorism, noting that Boko Haram and ISWAP are deploying modern warfare technologies such as drones and attending training abroad to intensify the insurgency.
Musa revealed that the military has re-strategized its operations and is currently on the offensive, having taken down several terrorists. He attributed the rise in insurgency to Nigeria’s porous borders, which allow terrorists and bandits to easily enter the country. “Having gone through my analysis and looking at the Sahel, the main attraction to all these terrorists and bandits is Nigeria, because of this perception that Nigeria is a rich country. And there is no law to prevent them from getting there. And the borders are porous,” he said.
The CDS’s comments underscore the need for a comprehensive approach to address the country’s security challenges, including strengthening border security and addressing the root causes of insurgency.