- CDS said troops got faulty info on herders’ movements
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, on Thursday blamed some residents of Yelewata in Benue State where about 200 persons were massacred last weekend for harbouring the perpetrators, saying they even provided the invaders with food and women.
General Musa, who spoke at Defence Headquarters, Abuja during an interaction with journalists, said that before the incident, troops had received intelligence about potential attacks in various communities across Benue State and were mobilised accordingly but upon arrival at the mentioned locations, it turned out that the information was misleading as the real attack had been executed in Yelewata using “a hit-and-run approach.”
The CDS said local informants also helped the attackers identify the location of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp at Yelewata, resulting in the high casualty figure recorded.
According to him: “These criminals were harboured by people in the community. They were given food. They were even given women. They were guided on where the IDP camp was located. Yet, security forces received no information.
“This is why we consistently urge communities to be vigilant and report suspicious activities. Security is everyone’s responsibility.”
General Musa said President Tinubu had directed full activation of all national security forces, assuring that the perpetrators of Yelwata killings would be brought to justice.
Describing the porosity of the nation’s borders as a growing threat amid the rising instability in the Sahel region, General Musa said the flow of arms and fighters from crisis-hit countries like Sudan, Libya and the Central African Republic is worrisome, warning that these elements are exploiting Nigeria’s vast and unmonitored frontiers.
He said Nigeria should learn from a country like Pakistan which successfully built a fortified double-layer border wall to separate itself from Afghanistan.
According to him, Nigeria’s security challenges require a “whole-of-society approach involving collaboration between the military, civilian institutions and the public.
Also speaking at the event, Deputy Director, Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Ibrahim Abu-Mawashi, said 6,260 terrorists and criminals were neutralised in joint operations nationwide in the last two years.
He added that 14,138 suspects were arrested; while 5,365 civilians were rescued within the period.
He said weapons and ammunition recovered across the country included thousands of rounds and hundreds of assault rifles and other arms.
He broke down the feats recorded thus: “Niger Delta: N83 billion worth of stolen crude was recovered, 103 criminals killed and 2,760 suspects arrested.
“North East: 1,246 Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists neutralized, 2,467 arrested and 1,920 civilians rescued.
“North West: 1,374 bandits killed, 2,160 arrested and 3,288 hostages rescued.
“North Central: 730 terrorists killed, 7,153 arrested and 1,510 civilians rescued.
“South East (Operation Udoka): 440 terrorists killed and 1,677 arrested.
“South West: 80 criminals killed, 1,763 arrested and 89 kidnap victims rescued.”
Earlier on Thursday at the maiden Defence Headquarters Civil-Military Relation Conference, the CDS said the suspicion, fear and mistrust in the relationship between the military and the civilian population had often “hampered our ability to effectively work together, particularly in times of crisis or national emergency.”
“The military has been seen not as a partner in progress, but as an occupying force, alien to the people it is meant to serve and protect,” he stated.
