Leaked DSS Memo Reveals Military Was Alerted Weeks Before Deadly Herdsmen Attacks on Yelewata
A leaked intelligence memo from the Department of State Services (DSS) has revealed that Nigeria’s military was warned weeks in advance of the deadly attacks by suspected herdsmen in Benue State, which claimed over 200 lives.
The confidential document, dated May 13, 2025, was addressed to the Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), Major General Sunday Iseru Gara, and warned of planned assaults on several communities in Benue, Nasarawa, and parts of Taraba.
The memo specifically named Yelewata and Daudu in Guma Local Government Area as likely targets.
Both communities were attacked on June 13, 2025, in what survivors described as a coordinated and brutal onslaught. Armed men suspected to be Fulani militias stormed the settlements in the early morning hours, killing men, women, and children, and setting homes ablaze. Many of the victims were internally displaced persons who had only recently returned after previous displacements caused by similar violence.
Despite the detailed intelligence, military forces failed to act decisively to prevent the assault. Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, confirmed that troops were stationed in the area on the day of the attack but were diverted to another location following misleading reports. The redirection left Yelewata vulnerable to the attackers, who inflicted mass casualties before escaping.
General Gara convened a high-level meeting in Makurdi on May 28 with representatives from the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), community leaders, and traditional rulers to address the growing security threat. However, the meeting failed to prevent the violence that occurred less than two weeks later.
President Bola Tinubu, who visited Makurdi on June 18, condemned the killings as senseless and ordered a full investigation into the failure to act on the intelligence provided by the DSS. He vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice and to hold accountable any security official found negligent. He also directed security agencies to intensify efforts to protect vulnerable communities and prevent further bloodshed.
The incident has drawn widespread condemnation from across the country, with civil society groups, community leaders, and political figures calling for urgent reforms in Nigeria’s security architecture. Critics argue that the Benue massacre reflects a broader pattern of intelligence failure and inadequate response that continues to plague the nation’s efforts to combat violent attacks.
As investigations continue, questions remain about the chain of command, the handling of intelligence reports, and the broader implications for national security. Many affected communities are still reeling from the loss, while others in high-risk areas remain on edge, fearing that the state cannot guarantee their safety even when forewarned.
