The Nigerian military and police have initiated a coordinated cross-border operation to hunt down the gunmen responsible for the massacre of about 200 villagers in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, which occurred on the night of Friday, June 13, 2025.
General Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff, and Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun arrived in Makurdi and Yelewata on Monday to oversee operations targeting the suspected killers.
After evaluating the devastation, Musa pledged to adapt the military’s tactics to confront the terrorists effectively.
He also raised alarm about possible internal collusion, expressing concern that the assailants may have received assistance from within the community.
While addressing journalists in Yelewata, the Defence Chief said, “In every society, including the military, there are always people who compromise. I promise to meet with the commanders and find ways to change our strategies.
“In my estimation, it is one killing too many. We’re here to ensure that we address such. From here, I’m going to see my commanders, and we are going to change our strategies to look inwards and see how we can address this. We cannot do it alone without the community.”
General Musa emphasized the need for community cooperation, noting that military action alone is insufficient to achieve success.
“There may be trust issues that we are going to address. For us we want this to be the last that would happen.
“We need everybody to be part of it, we understand that even before now we used to have even within us, people that used to compromise and give out information.
“If you see the way some of the burnings were made, you know that they were targeted. It shows they have insiders,” he stated.
The Chief of Defence Staff recognized the unsecured borders between Nasarawa and Benue states and committed to meeting with the Nasarawa State Governor to address the issue.
He explained, “I want to assure Nigerians, the whole Benue State, and all over the country, that we are determined, based on the mandate of Mr President, that we will restore peace and tranquillity within the country.
“We always have information that these people are coming from across borders; wherever they come from, we will go after them.
“We must take the battle to them, we must not wait for them to attack, and that is what I think. It is very critical that tomorrow (Tuesday) we proceed to Nasarawa State because the borders are actually very critical to the success of what we are doing.”
General Musa called on Nigerian youths and citizens to back the military, emphasizing the need for collective action.
“We need Nigerians to support us. We must work together as a team. For the youths, please don’t give up. This is our country; we can never give up our country for anything. And this madness must stop,” the CDS said.
On late Friday, June 13, gunmen attacked Yelewata village in Guma LGA, Benue State, carrying out one of the deadliest assaults in the state in recent years.
According to Amnesty International and local officials, at least 100 people were killed, many remain missing, and hundreds are injured with gunshot and burn wounds after attackers set homes on fire into the early hours of Saturday.
The local police confirmed the attack but have yet to provide a final casualty count, while emergency responders noted that many victims were internally displaced persons who had sought refuge in Yelewata after prior attacks.
The Benue State government has initiated a manhunt, but locals are concerned about potential reprisals as the rainy season, a peak time for disputes over grazing and planting, begins.
Pope Francis also referenced the incident during his Sunday Angelus, praying for those affected by what he called a “terrible massacre.”
The violence is part of ongoing conflicts tied to farmer-herder disputes, banditry, and a security gap that human rights groups say allows perpetrators to operate with “utter impunity.”
Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun labeled the attacks a threat to Nigeria’s sovereignty. In Makurdi, he expressed condolences to the Benue government and its people for the killings.
“These mindless acts of terror are not just attacks on Benue people, but they are attacks on the sovereignty and integrity of the nation. An attack on any community of Nigeria is an attack on the entire country.
“The criminal elements and bandits might have operated here with impunity in the past but a day is fast approaching when they would come to attack but would never return.
“That day is fast approaching and I can assure you that we would continue to protect lives and property in the state,” the police chief said.
Egbetokun acknowledged that the vast landmass of Benue poses challenges for effective policing but assured that more personnel would be assigned to ensure public safety.
“We are aware of the vast terrain of Benue State and the security challenges it presents. We might not be able to cover every inch of the place, but we will deploy adequately to ensure the protection of lives and property in Benue.
“I want to assure you that the Nigerian Police Force will stand with you and the entire people of Benue state on this. We are going to work closely with you and in close synergy with other security agencies to ensure that lasting peace return to Benue state.
“We will support the state with all of our resources and synergize with other security agencies to defeat these evils,” he vowed.
Governor Hyacinth Alia thanked the Police Chief for his visit and lamented the numerous recent tragedies that have befallen Benue communities.
“We are bleeding, we are in sorrow. I believe your visit is going to uplift our spirits and build within us formidable assurance of the fact that we are not alone but that you will be there for us.
“But I’m confident that once our victims feel your presence, it will rekindle hope in them as well.
“We are hopeful that with all hands on deck, we would become victorious and the sorrowful narrative we share today would become a thing of the past,” Alia stated.
The governor further said that the past two months have been especially difficult for the people of Benue, but expressed hope that help from the President and security agencies would bring peace.
“There has been an upsurge of attacks recently. We have not rested in the last two months,” he added.
In a related development, President Bola Tinubu has postponed his previously scheduled visit to Kaduna State on Wednesday, June 18, and will instead visit Benue State on that day to address the persistent violence plaguing the region. The Kaduna visit has now been shifted to Thursday, June 19.
President Tinubu made this known while commissioning the Greater Abuja Water Supply project, expressing sympathy for the victims of the latest violence.
“I sympathise with those who have lost their lives. I will adjust my programmes and see Benue people on Wednesday,” Tinubu said.
The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed this change in a statement, explaining that the visit is intended to confront the crisis that has caused severe loss of lives and property.
During the visit, President Tinubu will engage with key stakeholders, including traditional rulers, political figures, religious leaders, local authorities, and youth groups, in pursuit of a sustainable peace.
“In preparation for the visit, President Tinubu has already dispatched the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Inspector General of Police, heads of intelligence agencies, the National Security Adviser, and the Chairmen of the Senate and House Defence Committees to Benue State.
“The President is expected to hold a town hall meeting with all stakeholders during the visit,” the statement read.
President Tinubu had earlier denounced the violence in Benue and urged both leaders and citizens to prioritize peace, unity, and mutual respect.
Additionally, he instructed security agencies to take immediate action in implementing his earlier directives aimed at restoring peace and order in the state.
Onanuga noted, “On the President’s directive, intelligence chiefs, the police and the military have arrived in the state to direct security operations and restore sanity.”
