TAKUM, TARABA STATE — Amid the relentless wave of killings and communal violence sweeping through parts of Nigeria’s Middle Belt, retired military general and former Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, has reignited his urgent call for self-defence, warning Nigerians not to rely solely on the government for protection.
Speaking at a public event in his hometown of Takum, Taraba State, on Saturday, Danjuma said the federal government’s continued inability to curb widespread insecurity in states like Plateau and Benue has tragically reaffirmed his warning issued five years ago.
“The warning I gave some years ago is still as valid today as it was then,” he said. “We cannot continue to sit and watch while bandits, terrorists, and criminal gangs massacre our people unchecked.”
The former Chief of Army Staff, known for his outspokenness on national security, criticised the deteriorating state of public safety, especially in communities plagued by recurring attacks from armed groups.
According to him, it is now painfully evident that the state apparatus can no longer guarantee the security of life and property across swathes of the country.
“It is now very clear that the government alone cannot protect us,” Danjuma asserted. “We must stand up and defend ourselves, our families, and our lands before these criminals overrun the entire country.”
His comments echo the sentiments of many Nigerians who feel increasingly vulnerable in the face of frequent attacks on farming communities, particularly in Benue, Plateau, Taraba, Kaduna, and Zamfara.
The elder statesman’s remarks are expected to stir renewed national discourse on security, community defence, and the long-standing calls for state policing.
As public confidence in government-led security interventions continues to erode, Danjuma’s statement is not just a warning — it’s a rallying cry to a nation on edge.
