The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has firmly rejected allegations suggesting internal sabotage within the Nigerian military contributed to the deadly attack in Yelwata, Benue State, describing such claims as baseless and unsupported by any credible evidence.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier-General Tukur Gusau, emphasized that the Nigerian Armed Forces had no involvement in the tragic massacre and maintained its commitment to upholding the rule of law and protecting civilian lives.

“There is no credible evidence to substantiate claims of internal sabotage within the military related to the Yelwata incident,” Gusau said.

He noted that the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, had publicly denied any role of the military in the killings and had consistently called for collaborative security efforts to address violence in the region.

The DHQ clarified that investigations conducted by independent observers and human rights organisations had also failed to establish any link between military personnel and the perpetrators of the massacre.

“The violence in Yelwata is part of a broader pattern of intercommunal clashes in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region, primarily between farmers and herders,” the statement said. “These conflicts are driven by longstanding disputes over land and grazing rights, ethnic tensions, and competition for resources.”

While acknowledging the presence of military forces deployed to stabilize the area, Gusau stressed that the root causes of the violence are deeply embedded in socio-economic and political complexities that require more than military intervention alone.

“Attributing the Yelwata massacre to internal sabotage within the Nigerian military is misleading and detracts from the real issues at play,” he cautioned.

The DHQ reiterated the need for communities and security agencies to collaborate more closely, stressing the importance of dialogue, reconciliation, and sustainable peace in resolving the protracted violence in the region.

General Musa, according to the statement, had appealed to residents not to shield criminal elements and assured that the military remains committed to protecting the lives and property of law-abiding citizens.

“The Chief of Defence Staff has called for a holistic approach. He encouraged communities to work with security agencies and not to harbour criminals,” Gusau added.