CDS Meets Benue Monarchs, Vows Lasting Peace After Yelwata Killings

CDS Meets Benue Monarchs, Vows Lasting Peace After Yelwata Killings

Following the recent spate of attacks and killings in Yelwata town, Benue State, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, has pledged the unwavering commitment of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to restore peace and security in the region.

This assurance came during a high-level engagement with prominent traditional rulers and elders in the state, convened in line with the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The interactive forum was aimed at identifying the root causes of the persistent violence and developing practical strategies for resolution.

The meeting, held under the auspices of the Defence Headquarters, brought together the Tor Tiv and Chairman of the Benue State Traditional Council, His Royal Majesty Professor James Ortese Tyozua Ayatse; the Ochidoma; first- and second-class chiefs; and respected elders across the state’s three senatorial zones.

According to a press statement issued by Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, the CDS noted that the engagement was a follow-up to a recent top-tier security meeting in Abuja involving the Service Chiefs, Inspector General of Police, and the National Security Adviser. He emphasized that Benue’s security concerns are a national priority and called for unity and sincerity in addressing them.

The Tor Tiv, in his remarks, commended the CDS for his proactive leadership and expressed concern over the continued marginalization of traditional institutions in decision-making processes. He identified unregulated grazing by suspected herders and the activities of armed bandits as the main triggers of violence, lamenting that these have displaced thousands into internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.

Participants, including members of the Defence Headquarters’ advisory team and military commanders, proposed a range of solutions—from enhanced intelligence gathering to the adoption of ranching as an alternative to open grazing. The imposition of non-indigenous traditional rulers was also highlighted as a source of communal tension, with calls for the reversal of such policies.

The traditional council urged the Federal Government to act decisively and fairly, stressing that impartial intervention would be key to long-term peace. They also encouraged the replication of peacebuilding successes recorded by General Musa in Southern Kaduna.

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In his closing remarks, General Musa urged royal fathers to remain steadfast as custodians of peace and to assist security agencies in identifying collaborators aiding criminal elements within their communities. He assured the forum that all issues discussed would be presented to the Presidency for further action.

The engagement ended with the exchange of souvenirs, group photographs, and a renewed sense of collective responsibility toward peace and security in Benue State.

CDS Meets Benue Monarchs, Vows Lasting Peace After Yelwata Killings