CDS Musa Blames Land, Armed Gangs for Benue Killings

Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has identified land disputes, armed militia activities, and poor local security architecture as the top three causes behind the persistent killings in Benue State.

Speaking during an event Gen. Musa emphasized that the crisis in Benue is a complex web of socio-political and communal issues.

“First, we have unresolved land disputes that have festered for years,” he explained. “Second, there’s the disturbing presence of armed non-state actors operating across borders. Lastly, local security networks are either overwhelmed or compromised.”

The military chief stressed the need for coordinated efforts involving federal security forces, local vigilantes, and community leaders to stem the violence.

Benue State has witnessed repeated outbreaks of deadly violence, often involving herders, farmers, and armed militias. The attacks have led to thousands of deaths and widespread displacement in the last decade.

Gen. Musa assured Nigerians that security agencies are stepping up operations in the region to restore peace and dismantle criminal hideouts.