The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has refuted claims circulating in some media outlets suggesting that the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, blamed victims of the recent Benue killings for the attacks.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, the DHQ clarified that General Musa’s remarks were misrepresented and taken out of context.
According to Gusau, the CDS never absolved perpetrators or shifted responsibility to the victims. Instead, he emphasized the complexities of conflict-prone areas and the critical need for communities to remain vigilant and work closely with security agencies to prevent future attacks.
“The attention of the Defence Headquarters has been drawn to a news article published in a national daily, which misrepresents recent remarks made by the CDS, Gen. Musa, regarding the tragic Yelwata incident,” Gusau said.
“We categorically state that the interpretation and portrayal of the CDS’s comments by the National Coalition Against Mass Killings and Impunity (NCAMKI), as reported, are both misleading and taken out of context. At no point did the CDS intend to blame victims or justify the heinous acts perpetrated by criminal elements in Benue State or elsewhere.”
He said the general’s comments were made in good faith, aimed at drawing attention to the sophisticated strategies used by insurgents and criminal elements to destabilise communities.
“It is regrettable that advocacy groups would twist the narrative and attempt to politicise an issue as sensitive as national security,” Gusau noted, describing such interpretations as unfair and unhelpful.
Gusau stressed that General Musa remains committed to protecting all Nigerians, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or gender, and that he consistently promotes civil-military cooperation and professionalism in the armed forces.
“We reject the insinuation that the CDS’s remarks were ‘reckless, insensitive, or provocative.’ Such a claim is not only untrue but also undermines the efforts of the armed forces in managing highly volatile and emotionally charged security situations across the country,” the statement added.
The Defence Headquarters called for restraint and responsible engagement by all stakeholders, warning against inflammatory statements that could inflame tensions or erode public trust.
“The Defence Headquarters remains committed to working with all communities, civil society organisations, and government partners to ensure justice, peace, and accountability prevail across Nigeria,” Gusau concluded.
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