The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Ahmed Audi, has condemned the recent massacre of unarmed civilians in Benue State and directed an immediate upscale in intelligence gathering to apprehend the perpetrators and ensure justice.
Dr. Audi made the statement during a visit to Benue State for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation, alongside other security chiefs. He extended his condolences to the governor and people of Yelwata in Guma Local Government Area, where the killings occurred, and assured that the Corps is working closely with other security agencies to put an end to the violence.
Describing the killing of women and children as mindless and inexcusable, the NSCDC boss stressed that there can be no justification for such a gruesome attack on innocent citizens.
He issued a directive to the Zonal Commander and the State Commandant to deploy covert operatives, special forces, and all tactical units across every part of the state, while collaborating with stakeholders to ensure coordinated operations for a renewed offensive against those responsible.
“These killings must stop, and we must be very strategic, decisive, and resilient in our approach to restoring peace and order in the state. All hands must be on deck. There must be maximum deployment of all special forces, the counter-terrorism unit, and intelligence operatives for both covert and overt operations,” he said.
Dr. Audi emphasized the importance of aligning with the directive of President Bola Tinubu that the perpetrators be brought to justice, and called on his personnel to be fully committed to the task.
He further assured that the NSCDC High Command would deploy additional tactical operatives and logistics to strengthen the Benue Command’s capacity and improve security coverage. He pledged to work closely with the military, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Police, local security outfits, and community stakeholders to gather credible intelligence that would lead to the arrest of those responsible for the attack.
The Commandant General thanked the Executive Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Lornem Alia, for the support given to the State Command. He reaffirmed his commitment to restoring peace and order, securing critical national assets and infrastructure, and protecting the lives of the people of Benue State.
