The Nigerian Defence Headquarters DHQ, on Tuesday, dismissed allegations claiming that the deadly killings in Yelwata area of Benue state, was due to internal sabotage within the Nigerian military.
Reacting to the allegations in a press statement titled: REFUTATION OF ALLEGATIONS REGARDING YELWATA MASSACRE, the DHQ said it was misleading and detracts from the real issues at play.
Also, the DHQ described the allegations as, “unfounded and not supported by credible evidence”.
According to the statement signed by the director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, there is no credible evidence to substantiate claims of internal sabotage within the military related to the Yelwata incident.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, has publicly stated that the military was not responsible for the killings in Yelwata, emphasising military’s commitment to protecting civilians and upholding the rule of law.
While maintaining that the Nigerian military has consistently denied any involvement in the massacre, the DHQ noted that investigations by independent bodies, including human rights organizations, have not found any links between the military and the perpetrators of the massacre.
“The violence in Yelwata is part of a broader pattern of intercommunal clashes in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region, primarily between farmers and herders”, the DHQ stated, stressing that, “these conflicts are driven by longstanding disputes over land and grazing rights, ethnic tensions, and competition for resources. While the military has been deployed to maintain peace, the root causes of the violence lie in complex socio-economic and political factors”.
The Nigerian Military calls for focus on addressing the underlying causes of intercommunal violence and to support efforts aimed at fostering dialogue, reconciliation, and sustainable peace in the affected regions.
Gen Musa called for a holistic approach and the need for the cummunities and the security agencies to work closer to address the issue.
The CDS also urged the communities not to hide criminals, assuring them of the military and other security agencies protection of lives and properties of law abiding citizens.
