Chief of Defense Staff, Gen Musa Backs Benue Youth Vigilantes, Donates ₦150m for Yelewata Victims

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has called for the training of credible youths across Benue State as vigilantes under military supervision to help defend local communities against terrorist attacks. The initiative, similar to a strategy earlier implemented in Borno State, is aimed at curbing the rising wave of violence in Benue.

General Musa made the call on Tuesday during a meeting with traditional rulers in Makurdi, the Benue State capital. He urged the royal fathers to identify and curb criminal elements in their communities, warning that acts of sabotage would not be tolerated in the military’s renewed efforts to protect the state.

Meanwhile, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State paid a condolence visit to Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue to sympathize with the people over the recent killings in Yelewata. During the visit, Sule urged both states to work together to end the violence and announced a ₦150 million donation to support displaced persons in Benue.

General Musa, who has been in the state since Monday, stated that the military would be changing its strategy to combat the persistent attacks, which have claimed over 160 lives in just two months. Last Friday, at least 59 residents were killed and more than 3,000 displaced in a night raid on Yelewata by suspected herdsmen.

Benue, one of Nigeria’s major food-producing states, has suffered years of deadly clashes, often linked to disputes between indigenous farmers and nomadic herders over land.

The recent massacre drew international condemnation, including from Pope Leo XIV, who decried the killings and called for peace.

On Sunday, President Bola Tinubu tasked Governor Alia with initiating peace talks and reconciliation meetings between the warring factions. The President is expected to visit Benue on Wednesday and has directed the service chiefs to put an immediate end to the bloodshed.

Also on Monday, CDS Musa and Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, toured affected areas and ordered security commanders in neighbouring Nasarawa to revise their tactics and take decisive action.

“We are tired of innocent souls being killed,” Musa said. “This is a joint effort — the military, the community, and the government must all work together. We suspect there are insiders aiding these attacks, given how targeted the burnings appear. We’ve spoken with traditional rulers and clergy to build a united front.”