The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa, has assured the people of Benue State and Nigerians of the determination of the military to bring attackers of Yelwata town in Guma Local Government Area of Benue to book and to ensure that we restore peace and tranquilly within our country.
General Musa gave the assurance when he visited Yelwata town in Guma Local Government Area of Benue, where scores were killed in a coordinated attack on Friday night. His visit followed the prolonged attacks on communities in the state by armed herders/bandits.
He urged the Youths never give up on the trust they have in the security agencies and the government. "This is our country. We can never, ever give our country up for anything. And this madness must stop and it will end.
"To come here and see the communities, to also commiserate with his excellency the Governor of Benue State and the good people of Benue State. Like the IGP mentioned, this is one to many killings. We're tired of innocent souls being killed and we're here to ensure that we address such.
"From now I'll be going to see my commanders and we have to change our strategy. We want to look inward and see how we can address it. But like we mentioned, we cannot do it alone without the community, without the state.
"We need everybody to be part of it. We understand that even before now, we used to have, even within us, people that compromise and give information. Because going around, you see the way some of the burnings were made were targeted and which means they had insiders.
"And so I've discussed with the communities, the traditional rulers, with the clergy, for us to walk united. There have been some issues on trust and that we're going to address. For us, like I said, we want this to be the last one that will happen.
"We're going to go all out to ensure that we address it. We are putting measures in other places and it has worked. Here it's not going to be different.
"I want to assure Nigerians that not only Benue State, all over the country, we are determined, based on the mandate of Mr. President, to ensure that we restore peace and tranquilly within our country. But we need Nigerians to support us. We must work together as a team.
"We also have the information that sometimes some of these people come across borders. Wherever it is they're coming from, we're going to go after them and take them. So we must take the battle to them, not waiting for them to attack.
"And that's when I think it's very, very critical. Tomorrow, hopefully, I also want to proceed to Nassarawa State to see His Excellency, to be able to, because the borders actually are actually very critical to the success of what we're doing. For the youth, please don't give up.
"This is our country. We can never, ever give our country up for anything. And this madness must stop and it will end." General Musa said