Benue Killings: “We’re With You,” Defence Chief Assures as Military Vows Crackdown on Killers
Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has assured Benue residents of the Armed Forces’ full support amid renewed attacks in the state, pledging to identify and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Speaking during a meeting with traditional rulers in Makurdi on Tuesday, General Musa called for unity and local collaboration to restore peace.
“The Armed Forces are with you. We’re deeply pained by the killings. Personally, I find it unacceptable. I don’t want to lead a military while innocent lives are being lost. We’ve brought peace to Liberia and Sierra Leone—why not here at home?” he said.
Musa warned that no military personnel involved in criminal acts would be spared, stressing, “Anyone found complicit will be prosecuted. But we need your support to succeed.”
Referencing his native Zango Kataf in Kaduna State, he pointed to the peace achieved there through dialogue and cooperation.
“In Zango Kataf, things changed when the people united to face a common enemy. That’s the same model we can adopt here in Benue.”
In recent weeks, scores have been killed in renewed violence in the state, drawing national condemnation and sparking protests. Musa has now directed military commanders to track down and eliminate the attackers' hideouts.
“We won’t wait for another attack. The order is clear—locate, confront, and dismantle them,” he declared.
President Bola Tinubu, reacting to the escalating crisis, is scheduled to visit Benue on Wednesday. In advance, 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 leaders from the National Assembly.
During the visit, Tinubu is expected to meet with stakeholders and offer federal condolences to victims' families. His spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the development, adding that the president remains committed to restoring peace and justice in the region.
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