The military and the police have launched a joint, cross-border manhunt for the gunmen who killed around 200 villagers in Yelewata, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, on the night of Friday, June 13, 2025.
Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa and Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun arrived in Makurdi and Yelewata on Monday to coordinate the operation that would target the suspected killers.
Musa, after assessing the carnage, vowed to take the battle to the terrorists by changing the military’s strategy to fit the situation on the ground.
However, given the manner of the attack, he expressed concerns that the attackers are operating with help from within the community.
The Defence Chief briefed journalists in Yelewata, saying, “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.”
Musa called for community support, arguing that the Armed Forces’ efforts will not yield much without it.
“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 CDS also acknowledged the porous borders between Nasarawa and Benue states and promised to meet with the Nasarawa State Governor to discuss how to tackle the challenge.
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.”
While urging the youths to support the military, Musa sought support from every Nigerian too.
“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.
Gunmen stormed Yelewata village in Guma LGA of Benue State late Friday, June 13, unleashing one of the deadliest assaults the state has seen in years.
Amnesty International and local official reports say that at least 100 residents were killed, dozens remain missing, and hundreds nursing gunshot and burn wounds after attackers set houses ablaze through the early hours of Saturday.
Local police confirmed the raid but have not issued a final casualty figure, while emergency workers say many victims were internally displaced people who had taken refuge in the village after earlier attacks.
The Benue State government has launched a manhunt, but residents fear reprisals as the rainy season, peak period for disputed grazing and planting, sets in.
Pope Francis prayed for the “terrible massacre” during his Sunday Angelus.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
