Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd.), Nigeria’s former minister of defence has reiterated his call for Nigerians to defend themselves against bandits and criminals, declaring that relying solely on the government for protection is no longer realistic.
Speaking at a public gathering in Takum, Taraba State, on Saturday, Danjuma emphasized that his warning from five years ago remains relevant amid the growing wave of security crises across the country.
He said the recent spate of killings in Benue, Plateau, and other parts of Nigeria had once again validated his concerns. “The warning I gave some years ago is still as valid today as it was then. Nigerians must rise and defend themselves. “We cannot continue to sit and watch while bandits, terrorists, and criminal gangs massacre our people unchecked,” he said.
Danjuma, a native of Takum, criticized the government’s inability to provide adequate security, stressing that the time had come for communities to take proactive steps in protecting their lives and properties.
“It is now very clear that the government alone cannot protect us. We must stand up and defend ourselves, our families, and our lands before these criminals overrun the entire country,” he added.
His remarks follow renewed attacks in Benue and Plateau states, where dozens of lives have been lost and several communities displaced in recent weeks.
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