•General Christopher Musa
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, yesterday, raised alarm over alleged insider collaboration with attackers responsible for repeated killings in Benue State.
Our correspondent reports that at least 100 people were killed on Saturday in Yelewata community of Guma Local Government Area by armed invaders, reports Daily Trust.
General Musa, who was at the scene of incident to access the situation and to commiserate with Governor Hyacinth Alia and the people of the state, disclosed that security operatives suspect some individuals within the communities are feeding vital information to the attackers.
“In my estimation, it is one killing too many. We have observed that the way some of the burnings were carried out shows they were targeted. It indicates the presence of insiders compromising security efforts,” the CDS said.
He stressed the need for everybody to be part of the fight to secure the environment, emphasising the need for a shift in strategy and assuring that the military would review its approach and work more closely with local stakeholders to address the crisis.
“We are going to change our strategies to look inwards. But we cannot do it alone. We need the communities to be part of this effort,” he said.
The defence chief said consultations with traditional rulers, religious leaders, and local communities had already begun to restore trust and collaboration.
“There may be issues of trust and we are going to address them. We want this to be the last attack of this nature. We will go all out to ensure peace is restored,” he added.
General Musa assured that measures being implemented in other parts of the country would be replicated in Benue as he announced plans to visit Nasarawa State to strengthen border security coordination, which he described as critical to curbing cross-border attacks.
“We always receive information that these attackers are coming from across the borders. Wherever they are coming from, we will go after them. We must not wait for them to strike first,” he said.
The military chief further urged young people not to lose hope, insisting that Nigeria must not surrender to the violence.
“This is our country. We can never give up our country for anything. And this madness must stop,” the CDS posited.
Reacting to the CDS’s visit, the Chairman of Guma Local Government Area, Maurice Orwough, said the visit brings renewed hope to the people of the area.
Speaking in an interview on the sidelines, Orwough said,, “The visit of the Chief of Defence Staff gives our people in Guma LGA a sense of hope. It shows that the Nigerian government is genuinely concerned about the situation in Benue State. This visit allows us to provide him with first-hand information about what is happening here and what we need.”
He added that the visit would help rebuild residents’ trust in the federal government.
“The quick response from the authorities gives our people some confidence that the government is paying attention. It is a sign of hope for us,” Orwough said.
