In response to the unrelenting wave of violent attacks plaguing Benue State, Nigeria’s Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has initiated a plan to train credible youths across the state as vigilantes.
These trained groups will work under the direct supervision of the Nigerian military to defend their communities, a strategy previously employed in Borno State.
General Musa made this known during a strategic meeting with traditional rulers held in Makurdi, the state capital, on Tuesday.
He emphasized the urgent need for community collaboration and called on the monarchs to take firm control of their territories by identifying and restraining criminal elements within their domains. “We will not tolerate sabotage while working to ensure the protection of Benue communities,” Musa asserted.
The CDS, who has been in the state since Monday, reaffirmed the military’s commitment to changing its operational tactics to meet the escalating threats. He noted that defeating terrorism in Benue would require not only a shift in military strategy but also active cooperation from communities and local authorities.
Meanwhile, Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, paid a condolence visit to his Benue counterpart, Governor Hyacinth Alia, to commiserate with the people over the recent Yelewata massacre.
Governor Sule called for stronger collaboration between the neighboring states to put an end to the senseless killings. He also announced a donation of ₦150 million to support the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Benue.
The food-producing North-Central state has endured persistent violence from suspected herdsmen over the years.
However, the past few weeks have been particularly brutal. More than 160 people have been confirmed dead in a series of attacks across various communities in Benue over a two-month period. The latest attack occurred last Friday when at least 59 residents in Yelewata were killed in an overnight assault, leaving over 3,000 people displaced.
These atrocities have drawn widespread condemnation both nationally and internationally. Pope Leo XIV described the Yelewata killings as a “terrible massacre” and urged an immediate end to the bloodshed.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, reacting to the crisis, charged Governor Alia with initiating peace and reconciliation talks among affected parties. He is scheduled to visit Benue on Wednesday and has tasked Nigeria’s security chiefs, including CDS Musa, with putting an end to the ongoing carnage.
On Monday, both CDS Musa and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, visited some of the affected communities to assess the situation firsthand. During the tour, Musa instructed military commanders from neighboring Nasarawa State to reevaluate their operational strategies and confront terrorism with renewed vigor.
“We are tired of innocent souls being killed,” Musa declared. “We must go back to the drawing board. This is a collective fight. Without the help of the community, the state, and other stakeholders, it will be difficult. We also know there have been internal compromises—burnings that appear targeted suggest insider collaboration. That’s why we’re working with traditional rulers, clergy, and local leaders to find a united solution.”
What you should know
General Christopher Musa is reviving a military-community collaboration model by training vigilantes across Benue to curb terrorist attacks. His visit, alongside top police officials, signals a new strategic shift in addressing the killings that have displaced thousands and killed over 160 people in just two months.
