Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has revealed that military troops were present in Yelwata, Benue State, on the day of the deadly June 13, 2025 attack but were deceived into leaving the area due to a false tip-off about a separate attack in a nearby village.
Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, General Musa explained that the troops, acting on faulty intelligence, relocated to another community, which allowed the attackers to strike Yelwata.
“There was misleading information that same day,” he said. “The troops were in Yelwata, but a fake alert from another village diverted them. While they responded to that, the attackers struck Yelwata.”
He further disclosed that some members of the community are complicit in aiding the attackers by providing them with real-time updates about troop movements and even supplying them with food and other resources.
“There are insiders constantly tracking our operations, reporting the number of vehicles, troops, and their missions. Some even take food and women to them. It’s a deeply troubling and unfortunate situation,” he said.
General Musa emphasized the need for improved governance and community inclusion to address the root causes of insecurity.
“We strongly believe that with good governance and by giving people a sense of belonging, we can reduce these incidents. Many of these problems are linked to poor governance,” he noted.
The attack on Yelwata resulted in mass casualties and displacement. While official government figures report 59 deaths, civil society groups claim that nearly 200 people were killed, with over 3,000 residents displaced in the overnight assault allegedly carried out by suspected herdsmen.
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