The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, has reaffirmed the Armed Forces’ commitment to restoring lasting peace in Benue State following recent attacks in Yelwata town.
General Musa gave the assurance on Wednesday, 26th June 2025, during a high-level engagement with traditional rulers and elders of the state. The meeting, which held in Makurdi, brought together the Tor Tiv, the Ochidoma, first- and second-class chiefs, and elder statesmen from across the state.
Speaking at the forum, General Musa noted that the visit was in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to interface directly with the Benue Council of Elders and uncover both immediate and root causes of the persistent violence in the state.
He emphasized that recent strategic security meetings held in Abuja, involving the Service Chiefs, Inspector General of Police, and the National Security Adviser, were part of a broader plan to tackle the crisis holistically. 
The Tor Tiv and Chairman of the Benue State Traditional Council, His Royal Majesty Professor James Ortese Tyozua Ayatse, commended the CDS for the proactive outreach.
He decried the continued marginalization of traditional rulers in national security discourse, despite their vital roles in community peacebuilding. The monarch attributed the escalating insecurity to unchecked grazing by suspected herdsmen and the displacement of locals from their ancestral homes.
Participants also included members of the Defence Headquarters advisory team, local military commanders, and traditional leaders who shared recommendations such as the establishment of cattle ranches as an alternative to nomadic grazing. They stressed the need for fairness and inclusiveness in resolving the crisis. 
Concerns were raised over the appointment of non-indigenous traditional rulers, which, according to some elders, further fuels ethnic tensions. The Tor Tiv made a passionate appeal to the Federal Government to adopt decisive measures in bringing lasting peace to the region.
In his response, General Musa urged the traditional rulers to intensify efforts in identifying individuals within their communities who may be collaborating with external aggressors. He pledged to communicate the key resolutions from the meeting to the Presidency and assured stakeholders of continuous military engagement in the peace process.
The engagement concluded with an exchange of souvenirs, group photographs, and media interaction, underscoring the collaborative spirit of the occasion.
LV