‘We’ll go after perpetrators’ — Oluyede vows justice for victims of Benue attack

Olufemi Oluyede, chief of army staff (COAS), says the military will ensure that perpetrators of the recent Benue attack are brought to justice.

On June 14, more than 200 persons were killed and several others injured when some yet-to-be-identified gunmen invaded Yelewata, a community in Guma LGA of the state.

Speaking on Saturday during the second quarter media chat titled ‘Military-Media Collaboration: Panacea for Enhanced National Security and Development’ in Akure, Ondo state capital, the army chief said coordinated security operations are already underway to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Oluyede, who was represented by Obinna Onubogu, general officer commanding (GOC) 2 division of the Nigerian army, said the military remains committed to protecting the country’s territorial integrity.

“In the coming weeks, you will see very elaborate security arrangements in Benue to ensure that the killings stop completely,” Oluyede said.

“There are ongoing efforts behind the scenes to make sure this does not happen again. As far as the killings are concerned, we will go after them—and by God’s grace, we will get them.”

The army chief said President Bola Tinubu has given clear directives to tackle insecurity, adding that troops have been deployed to Benue, Plateau, Kwara, and other states facing security challenges.

Oluyede noted that while Nigeria is a large country, the army is working to cover as much ground as possible with the resources available.

He added that some of the attackers in Benue may not be Nigerians.

“We are in Benue, we are in Plateau, tackling the menace,” he added.

“But we also need support from the people. In some cases, lack of timely information delays our response. Intelligence from locals is crucial to improving our reaction time.

“The army is not as large as many people think, but we are doing our best to cover space and ground. There are a few places where we are not present, and unfortunately, that is where attackers exploit the gaps.”

Chibuisi, chief of civil-military affairs, said the event was organised to strengthen collaboration between the military and the media in advancing national security and development.