Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has revealed that military troops were present in Yelwata, Benue State, on Friday, June 13, 2025, but were misled by a false alarm from a neighbouring community, allowing attackers to strike the agrarian town.
General Musa, who made the disclosure during a press briefing on Thursday in Abuja, said the troops had responded to a fake security alert from another village. In the process, armed assailants believed to be herdsmen stormed Yelwata, resulting in heavy casualties and widespread destruction.
“Because of insider information, the troops were already on ground that day. But there was a fake attack alert in a neighbouring village. When the troops moved to that location, the attackers struck Yelwata,” Musa stated.
The Defence Chief lamented the growing intelligence gap and collaboration between local informants and criminal groups.
“There are people within communities giving attackers updates—where the troops are, how many vehicles, how many soldiers. Some even take food and women to them. That shows how deep the complicity runs and how unfortunate the situation is,” he said.
He stressed the need for community cooperation and improved governance to address insecurity effectively. “We believe that if there’s good governance and people feel included, the tendency to support criminality will reduce. It’s a challenge we must face holistically,” Musa said.
The June 13 attack on Yelwata led to the death of several residents and the displacement of over 3,000 people. While the government confirmed 59 fatalities, civil society organisations insist the death toll may be as high as 200.
The tragic incident has drawn national outrage, with many calling for urgent and decisive military and political responses to the persistent violence in Benue and other parts of Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
