The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has condemned the brutal killing of unarmed civilians in Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, describing it as an inexcusable act of terror against innocent citizens.
Dr Audi made this known during his visit to Benue for an on-the-spot assessment of the affected communities, where he met with Governor Hyacinth Lornem Alia and other stakeholders.
He expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives, particularly women and children, in what he termed a senseless massacre.
“There is no justification whatsoever for the gruesome murder of innocent citizens. These killings must stop,” the NSCDC boss said.
While commiserating with the families of the victims, Dr Audi assured that the NSCDC would not rest until the perpetrators are brought to justice.
He stressed the urgent need to strengthen the intelligence network and deploy all available resources to combat criminality in the region.
“We must be very strategic, decisive, and resilient in our approach to restoration of peace and order in the State,” he added.
“All hands must be on deck. There must be maximum deployment of all special forces, counter-terrorism units, and intelligence operatives for both covert and overt operations.”
He issued a directive to the Zonal Commander and State Commandant to mobilize all tactical units and increase surveillance across every nook and cranny of the state.
He emphasized collaboration with other security outfits and community stakeholders to ensure a well-coordinated offensive against the perpetrators.
“Just as Mr President has directed, the perpetrators of this heinous crime must be brought to book, and we need to be on top of our game to make this happen,” Dr Audi stated.
He further pledged that the NSCDC High Command would provide more tactical personnel, logistics, and operational support to the Benue Command to enhance security coverage.
According to him, the Corps will continue to work closely with the military, DSS, police, indigenous security groups, and local communities to gather credible intelligence and track down those responsible for the attack.
The Commandant General also thanked Governor Hyacinth Alia for his continuous support to the state command and reaffirmed the NSCDC’s commitment to restoring peace and protecting critical national assets, infrastructure, and the lives of citizens across Benue.
