Former Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd.), has urged Nigerians to defend themselves against bandits and criminals.
He warned that relying solely on the Federal Government for protection was no longer realistic.
He stated this on Saturday at a public event in Takum, Taraba State.
Danjuma who said he gave this warning some five years ago, insisted that it remains relevant amid the growing wave of insecurity in Nigeria.
He said the recent rise in 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, an indigene of Takum, lamented that the government can no longer 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.
