Former Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd.), has advised Nigerians to defend themselves against bandits and criminals, warning that relying exclusively on the government for safety is no longer an option.
Speaking on Saturday at a public event in Takum, Taraba State, Danjuma said his five-year-old warning is still applicable in the face of the country’s escalating insecurity.
According to him, the recent spate of killings in Benue, Plateau, and other parts of Nigeria has confirmed 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.
His remarks follow renewed attacks in Benue and Plateau states, where dozens of people have been killed and several communities displaced in recent weeks.
Danjuma, who is from Takum, criticised the government’s inability to provide adequate protection, stating that the time had come for people to take proactive steps to defend their lives and property.
“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.
