The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said that there was no evidence to substantiate claims of internal sabotage within the military over the recent massacre in Yelwata, Guma local government area of Benue State.
The Director, Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, stated this while reacting to reports suggesting that internal sabotage within the Nigerian military contributed to the tragic events in Yelwata community.
He described the reports as “unfounded and not supported by credible evidence.”
He said the Nigerian military has consistently denied any involvement in the massacre.
According to the statement, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, has publicly stated that the military was not responsible for the killings in Yelwata.
He emphasised that the Nigerian Military was committed to protecting civilians and upholding the rule of law.
“There is no credible evidence to substantiate claims of internal sabotage within the military related to the Yelwata incident.
“Investigations by independent bodies, including human rights organisations, have not found any links between the military and the perpetrators of the massacre,” the DHQ spokesman stated.
Brig.-Gen. Gusau said: “the violence in Yelwata is part of a broader pattern of intercommunal clashes in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region, primarily between farmers and herders. These conflicts are driven by longstanding disputes over land and grazing rights, ethnic tensions, and competition for resources.”
He noted that while the military has been deployed to maintain peace, the root causes of the violence lie in complex socio-economic and political factors.
“Attributing the Yelwata massacre to internal sabotage within the Nigerian military is misleading and detracts from the real issues at play. It is essential to focus on addressing the underlying causes of intercommunal violence and to support efforts aimed at fostering dialogue, reconciliation, and sustainable peace in the affected regions,” he added.
He explained that the CDS only called for a holistic approach and the need for the communities and the security agencies to work closer to address the issue.
He also called on the communities not to hide criminals and also assured them that the military and other security agencies were there to protect the lives and properties of law-abiding citizens.
