Killings: ‘Armed Forces Are With You’, CDS Assures Benue Residents.
General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, has rallied stakeholders in Benue, urging them to work together to put an end to the state’s recent series of killings.
“The armed forces are with you. We are distressed by what is happening. For me, it’s a personal matter. “No,” General Musa stated on Tuesday during a meeting with traditional rulers in Makurdi, the capital of Benue State. “I don’t want to serve as our Armed Forces’ Chief of Defence while people are dying.”
“We’ve gone to Liberia, Sierra Leone, and other nations to bring peace. Why not in this country?
“So, I want to assure you that no member of the Armed Forces will be against one.” If we notice somebody, we are prepared to prosecute them. However, we will need your help to create peace and collaborate efficiently. “We must achieve [peace] together.”
He referenced the success of Zango Kataf in Kaduna State as an example of collaboration with stakeholders, and believes a similar outcome may be reached in Benue.
The CDS stated, “I’m sure you’re all aware that I’m from Zango Kataf, and when you hear Zango Kataf, you know that we’re dealing with comparable challenges on the ground. But, as you can see, the Zango Kataf concerns have been resolved during the last two years. What have we done?
“One, we made them understand that, hey, we need to communicate with ourselves because a split house cannot stand. We can only combat our common enemy if we all work together, which is crucial.
In recent weeks, increased attacks in the food-producing state have resulted in numerous deaths, displacements, and serious injuries.
That has sparked national outrage and protests.
However, at the meeting, the CDS authorised military leaders to pursue the assailants, vowing to apprehend them.
“We need to find out where they are.” We must go after them. And that is the order I am giving my commanders,” he stated.
“We’ve identified certain spots where we believe they’re holing up or collecting. We’ll go after them and dislodge them. We should not wait till they come and harm people.”
The recent series of killings in North-Central State has spurred President Bola Tinubu to visit the state on Wednesday, after urging security services to pursue the attackers and restore calm in the communities.
“To prepare for the visit, President Tinubu has already sent the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Inspector General of Police, chiefs 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,” said his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement released on Monday.
Tinubu also expressed sympathy for the people of the state and those who lost loved ones in the attacks.