Former Minister of Defence, Lieutenant General Theophilus Yakubu (TY) Danjuma (rtd), has renewed his call for Nigerians to take proactive steps in defending themselves, warning that the country’s security crisis cannot be resolved by the government alone.
Speaking during an Easter gathering held in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State to appreciate his staff, partners, and affiliated companies, General Danjuma stressed that the rising tide of violence from bandits and terrorists demands a collective response.
“If our people do not stand up and defend themselves, bandits and terrorists will take over our society,” he warned, urging citizens to adopt self-defence measures as a vital strategy in safeguarding their communities.
The elder statesman who is a highly respected former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) highlighted that as insecurity deepens in Nigeria, it behooves on Nigerians to know that preparedness is key to preventing the complete breakdown of order.
In addition to his security message, Danjuma extended heartfelt appreciation to his team, with special recognition given to the staff of the TY Danjuma Medical Centre for their dedication and service.
This is not the first time that General Danjuma is raising the issue of the failure of the nation’s security architecture with its defence and security the country and the need for Nigerians to arm and defend themselves.
On March 24, 2018, he told the maiden Convocation ceremony of Taraba State University in Jalingo Taraba state capital that the unnecessary killings are ethnic cleansing on the people of Taraba and Nigeria at large, calling on the people to ‘rise and defend themselves against the killers. You must rise to protect yourselves from these people. If you depend on the Arm Forces to protect you, you will all die
“This ethnic creasing must stop in Taraba, and it must stop in Nigeria. These killers have been protected by the military, they cover them and you must be watchful to guide and protect yourselves because you have no any other place to go”
“The ethnic cleansing must stop now otherwise Somalia will be a child play. I ask all of you to be on your alert and defend your country, defend your State.”
On Saturday October 22, 2022, in his goodwill message at the presentation of staff of office to 25 Aku-Uka of Wukari in Taraba State, Manu Ishaku Adda Ali, General Danjuma said: “Some few years ago, I warned that the Armed Forces are either not capable or unwilling to protect us and that we must defend ourselves. The first denial of what I said was from the Ministry of Defence. They said I was lying. And they set up a kangaroo Board of Inquiry to investigate the truth or otherwise of what I said. And they invited me to come and testify. I didn’t go.
“They wrote their report which said that I was only speculating, that there was no evidence. Now, there is evidence. The whole country now is being run and overrun.
“And one very clear thing that is happening is that these foreign invaders are not even Muslims. A lot of the casualties inflicted on the land are on Muslims. They are even destroying mosques. But they were allowed to come into the country by our government. Now, as a soldier, my training teaches me that the best defence is attack.
