₦airaland Forum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jx40iAEeO-w

Former Defence minister Danjuma urges self-defense as Benue’s death toll rises to 56, calling the situation a “real war”

As the death toll in the attacks by suspected herdsmen on the people of Benue State hit 56 on Saturday, a former Minister of Defence, General Theophilus Danjuma (rtd) has restated his call on the people of Taraba State and other Nigerians in general to defend themselves against the invaders, who are killing people in various communities across the country.

Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, who confirmed that the death toll in the attacks by herdsmen in his state has risen to 56 during his on-the-spot assessment tour of some of the communities, declared that Benue State was going through “a real war.”

On his part, Danjuma spoke in Takum during an occasion he organised to appreciate his members of staff working within the area against the backdrop of renewed and intensified killings in communities in Plateau, Benue, Ondo and several other states across the country.

Meanwhile, tension has gripped the residents of Kaiama and Baruten LGAs of Kwara State as the new terrorist group identified as “Mahmuda”, has resumed operations in the area, kidnapping and killing residents.

This is the third time Danjuma, who is also a former Chief of Army Staff, is calling on Nigerians, particularly his people of Taraba State, to defend themselves against killings, which he described as genocide.

Addressing a large audience, including the Taraba State Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas and other top government functionaries, who gathered to welcome him to Takum, Danjuma noted that the circumstances that made him to call for self-defence in the past has not abated but rather has intensified.

“I once asked you to rise and defend yourselves. I am still repeating it today with more seriousness; rise and defend yourselves. The killers have obtained sophisticated arms; we don’t know where they got the arms. But you people should also seek to get it wherever they get the arms; you must defend yourselves against the killers.

“You should know that they are well armed to kill you and take over your land. Be ready for them as they are also humans like you,” he explained.

Danjuma added that unless the people are prepared to defend themselves against the killers, nobody is ready to save their lives.

Also speaking at the occasion, Governor Kefas eulogised Danjuma for his developmental strides in Taraba State and prayed God to continue to bless him with sound health.

Kefas noted that the state has benefitted immensely from Danjuma’s philanthropic gestures, particularly in the areas of health care services, roads infrastructure and economic empowerment and holistic development of the state.

Meanwhile, Governor Alia of Benue State has confirmed that the death toll in the herdsmen’s latest attacks on some communities in Logo and Ukum Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state has risen to 56.

Alia spoke on Saturday during his on-the-spot assessment tour of some of the communities attacked in the two LGAs.

Some communities, such as Ugondo in Logo and Tyuluv, Gbagir, and Ukum LGAs were attacked in coordinated armed assaults by gunmen suspected to be armed herders between Thursday and Friday.

The police command in the state, through its Spokesman, Catherine Anene, had on Friday announced that five people in Ukum and 12 people in Logo total of 17, were killed.

But Governor Alia, who gave the latest update, said the death toll in Logo at the time of his address had hit 27, and another 28 persons were killed in Ukum LGA.

“Since these attacks started, we have recovered corpses. As of yesterday (Friday), we received some, and today (Saturday), the tally rose to 27 in Logo.

“In Ukum, security operatives have recovered over 28 corpses,” the governor said, adding that the death toll was 56.

He added that some families had buried their loved ones after being given security cover by security operatives.

“Some families requested immediate burial for their relatives, and the security personnel provided them with cover to do so,” he said.

The Governor, however declared that what the state was going through at the moment is “a real war” which could not be handled with kid gloves.

He said, “There is no room for anyone to sleep with their two eyes closed. This is real war. We know our enemies. This is the only state that we have. I mourn with you at this very pathetic and sad moment in your lives.”

While commending the security agencies for all their sacrifices in ensuring that there is peace in the state, Alia called on the federal government to assist his administration with the necessary support to end the killings and displacement of innocent citizens in the state.

The governor promised to take care of the burial and medical bills of those in the hospital.

https://www.arise.tv/danjuma-urges-self-defense-as-benue-death-toll-rises-to-56-describes-crisis-as-war/

This is really sad, but I believe with President Tinubu in charge, he will surely find a way to stop these killings and bring peace soon.

SoftSport:
This is really sad, but I believe with President Tinubu in charge, he will surely find a way to stop these killings and bring peace soon.

Which TINUBU is in charge, even the Presidential WhatsApp group, he's not incharge talk more of Nigeria

While this is a good call, I think bulk of the problem is with the authorities that go about disarming people thus making them soft targets for fulani terrorists. The average fulani is a coward and will flee at the smallest resistance.

The Agatu people of Benue state defeated the fulanis during GEJ time. But the army came in and forcefully disarmed them, killing those that refused to submit their arms on PMB's order. After the army successfully disarmed the Agatus, the fulani returned back to kill and destroy.

Same thing happened to the Tivs when Gana, a Tiv warrior who waged war against the fulanis was killed by the army some years back on Buhari's order. We all know how hard the army went on ESN, thus leaving the Enugu people vulnerable to fulani terrorists.

The big question is why does the authority always dis-arm locals carrying den guns to defend themselves, but allow marauding fulani terrorists to roam about with AK47??

It's high time ! Nigerians forget about the Security Agents and Protect themselves from the Evil terrorist 😔

Pawa100:
It's high time ! Nigerians forget about the Security Agents and Protect themselves from the Evil terrorist 😔

The mod will delete this your comment and ban you for speaking against terrorism. All the deleted comments above spoke against terrorists

Nawa Nlfpmod.

Just look at the people that caused the violence in the first place calling for self defense.

In the 60s and 70s, when this man had Nigeria’s military and defense apparatus in his iron grip, he wasn't serving the nation — he was Obsessed with amassing obscene wealth and extinguishing every ember of the Biafran dream, he played puppet master to blood-soaked coups and was among the conspirators who butchered Aguiyi Ironsi, dismissing him as nothing more than a “useless desktop clerk.” But tables turn, and now they’ve turned with a vengeance. The mighty lion of yesterday is today’s limping prey. The harmless wind of treachery he once sowed has now returned as a raging whirlwind — and it’s still only dawn.

State police is the answer to this insecurity

These is a pure jihadic war against the Christians ✝️ and minorities in the north.
The grave silence 🔕 of the northern elites after hundreds were killed in plateau(bokkos,barkin ladi and bassa) and benue state until after almost a week after the incident before they issued a press release, is a pointer to the fact that there's something fishy!
They northern Islamic elites/pressure groups are enjoying some of the things going on,if not, they could have called the herders to order or create a law to stop open grazing in their states and also create a law criminalising bearing of small arms.

Telling people to rise up and defends themselves against people with AKs and automatic rifles is calling for genocide not even a war. If you want people to rise up to defend themselves, relax the gun ownership laws in the country, let people have easy access to gun license, set up gun range training centers all over the states. Issue gun license to only people with sound mind and no crime record. You wouldn’t have to tell people to defend themselves before they do.


You are telling people to defend themselves with cutlass and hoes when the enemies are well armed and better equipped.

What is even delaying state police, all these killing evil events are enough reason for state police to come live.

LMAOOOOOO wetin concern me ?

Nawa oo, as soja dey talk dis wey. Make we go get luggar.

Yes so

Solemn truth ever spoken. General TY Danjuma. Ettu 1966 killings for one Nigeria.

jaxin119:
The big question is why does the authority always dis-arm locals carrying den guns to defend themselves, but allow marauding fulani terrorists to roam about with AK47??

True

Naija don dey cast.

Nawa Nlfpmod, how we go do am.

Yes General 🙌💯

Pawa100:
It's high time ! Nigerians forget about the Security Agents and Protect themselves from the Evil terrorist 😔

The anambra guy wey protect himself where him dey now?