Benue Crisis: Defence Chief vows to hunt killers as Tinubu Yelwata awaits Tinubu’s visit

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has called on stakeholders in Benue State to unite in tackling the wave of violence that has left hundreds dead in recent weeks.

During a meeting with traditional rulers in Makurdi, the state capital, on Tuesday, General Musa assured residents of the military’s full commitment to ending the bloodshed.

“The Armed Forces are with you. We are pained about what’s happening. For me, it’s personal. I don’t want to be the chief of defense when people are being killed. No,” Musa stated.

He lamented that while the military had successfully restored peace in countries like Liberia and Sierra Leone, Nigeria’s internal crises persisted.

The Defence Chief urged traditional rulers and community leaders to work closely with security agencies, stressing that unity was essential for defeating the assailants.

CDC General Christopher Musa during a meeting with traditional rulers in Benue State.

General Musa cited the example of Zango Kataf in Kaduna State, where security and community leaders collaborated to end years of violence.

He expressed confidence that a similar result could be achieved in Benue if stakeholders were willing to set aside differences and confront the situation together.

“We must find out where they are. We must go after them. And that’s the directive I’m giving my commanders,” he declared, adding that the Armed Forces had identified hideouts where the attackers were regrouping and would launch operations to dislodge them.

The recent killings in Benue have drawn nationwide condemnation, with President Bola Tinubu directing security chiefs to act decisively and restore calm.

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, also arrived in Benue on Monday, ordering the deployment of additional tactical teams to bolster security operations.

President Tinubu is expected in Benue on Wednesday for a town hall meeting with stakeholders.

Ahead of his visit, he dispatched key officials, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Inspector-General of Police, the National Security Adviser, and defence committee chairmen from the Senate and House of Representatives, to the state.

Tinubu expressed his condolences to the people of Benue and those who lost loved ones in the attacks, reaffirming the government’s resolve to end the violence and restore peace to the affected communities.