The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said there is no evidence to substantiate claims of internal sabotage within the military related to the Yelwata incident.
The director of 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, Benue State.
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.”
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. Long-standing land and grazing rights disputes, ethnic tensions, and resource competition drive these conflicts.”
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 to foster dialogue, reconciliation, and sustainable peace in the affected regions,” he added.
He explained that the CDS only called for a holistic approach and for the communities and security agencies to work together to address the issue.
He also called on communities not to hide criminals. He assured them that the military and other security agencies are there to protect the lives and properties of law-abiding citizens.
