The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, on Thursday revealed that some residents of Benue State allegedly aided armed criminals responsible for the recent massacre in Yelwata community, where dozens lost their lives.

During an expanded media briefing at Defence Headquarters in Abuja, General Musa disclosed that the attackers were provided shelter, food, and even women by certain individuals within the local population.

He further alleged that local informants guided the assailants to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Yelwata, contributing to the high number of casualties.

Although the military had received prior intelligence about possible threats in various parts of the state and deployed forces accordingly, the attackers used deceptive tactics.

“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,” the CDS lamented.

In response to the massacre, President Bola Tinubu has ordered the full deployment of all national security forces — including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, and intelligence agencies — to hunt down those responsible.

General Musa stressed the importance of public cooperation with security agencies, reiterating that, “Security is everyone’s responsibility.”

He also urged the Federal Government to urgently strengthen control over Nigeria’s porous borders, citing the influx of arms and fighters from conflict-ridden countries such as Sudan, Libya, and the Central African Republic.

The instability in the Sahel region, he warned, is increasingly spilling over into Nigeria through unmonitored routes.