Defend yourselves against non-state actors – TY Danjuma tells Taraba residents
A former Minister of Defence, Lt.-Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd.), on Saturday, reiterated his call on Nigerians, especially residents of Taraba State, to acquire arms and defend themselves and their territories against bandits.
Danjuma made the call during the coronation and presentation of staff of office to the 25th Aku Uka of Wukari, Adda Ishaku Ali, in the Wukari Local Government Area of the state.
He lamented that innocent Nigerians were being attacked and killed by bandits, who were being allegedly guided by troops to perpetrate the act.
Danjuma said, “When I said the military were colluding with the armed bandits in 2017, the then minister of defence set up a kangaroo commission of enquiry that mischievously submitted that there was no evidence about my claim and they asked me to come and defend it.
“I thank God today that the evidence is very clear to all Nigerians now.
“Many Nigerian communities are now being sacked by the same bandits that I alleged and all these bandits are foreigners.
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“As a soldier, I must say that the best way to defend is to attack. I will not buy arms for you. But I urge you to find out how those attacking you acquired arms, and then acquire the arms and attack back to defend yourselves and your territory.”
He added, “I congratulate you, the new supreme ruler of the great Kwararafa Kingdom, the Aku Uka of Wukari.
“I must advice you to embrace peace and ensure its existence, but I must also tell you to defend your territory and the people.
“You are surrounded by the armed bandits, who are out to kill and destabilise the peace of your territory and you must exploit serious efforts to defend your people and the territory.”
Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, and his Plateau State counterpart, Simon Lalong, called on the Aku Uka, Ishaku Manu Ada Ali, to follow the historical footsteps of his predecessors to rule the kingdom with justice.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, appealed to traditional rulers within the Aku’s jurisdiction to give him the needed support to succeed and asked the youth and politicians to carry out their political campaigns in peace.
