Defend yourselves from killers, don’t rely on military – T.Y. Damjuma

Lt. General Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), a former Minister of Defence, on Saturday, urged citizens in Taraba to defend  themselves from killer herdsmen in the state, instead of depending on protection by the Nigerian military that is ‘bias’.

Danjuma at the maiden convocation and 10th anniversary of the Taraba State University, Jalingo, said that the Nigerian Armed Forces, at the moment, were providing cover for ruthless killers.

The elder statesman decried the sentiments of the security operatives and the pretenses of the All Progressives Congress (APC) government in managing national security.

Danjuma declared: “You must rise to protect yourselves from these people. If you depend on the Arm Forces for protection, you will all die one by one. The ethnic cleansing must stop now; otherwise, Somalia will be a child’s play.

“I ask every one of you to be on alert and defend your country; defend your territory, defend your state because you have nowhere else to go.

“The Arm Forces are not neutral, they are conniving with the armed bandits that are killing people,” he said.

Danjuma described Taraba as a miniature Nigeria with beautiful cultures which the bandits were doing everything to destroy.

Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba expressed delight over the growth of the university in the past 10 years.

The governor commended the founding fathers of the institution for their foresight in bringing university education to the door steps of Taraba people. He pledged to continue to support the university to attain a world class status.

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Vincent Tenebe, commended the state government for its continued support for the rapid growth of the university.

Tenebe congratulated the 5, 900 graduating students across the first five sets of the university, urging them to be good ambassadors of the institution.

Honorary Doctorate degrees were presented to Danjuma, Senator Jeremiah Useni and Governor Ishaku.

Other recipients included Tony Elumelu, Chairman, Tony Elumelu Foundation, and Professor Suileman Bogoro, former Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).

Danjuma has earlier inaugurated the 6.75 km Magami link road constructed by Governor Ishaku.