The recent accusation by Theophilus Y. Danjuma, a one-time minister of Defence in the country that the military collude with bandits to kill Nigerians has sparked row in different quarters. While many people have reviled the elder statesman, others have hailed the veteran war hero for making the statement.
During the maiden convocation ceremony of Taraba State University on Saturday, March 24, 2018, Lt. General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (retired), the former Chief of Army Staff categorically asserted that the Armed Forces of Nigeria were colluding with militias and other criminal elements to kill Nigerians, and called onTaraba people to take up arms and defend themselves.
The presidency was the first to fire salvo. In a statement released on Sunday, March 25, Tukur Gusau, the spokesperson to the minister of defence, Mansur Dan-Ali said Danjuma’s call for Nigerians, especially Taraba residents to defend themselves is uncalled for and should be disregarded by well meaning Nigerians.
Gusau said “Therefore, if anyone has evidence of wrongdoings or dereliction of duty against our troops, they should bring forward such evidence through the appropriate channels for necessary actions. For avoidance of doubt, the military will not be distracted from performing its statutory duties in accordance with the rules of engagement.”
In its reaction, Nigerian Army said “We remain neutral.” In a statement signed Sunday by Brigadier General Texas Chukwu, the Director, Army Public Relations said it is most unfortunate at this critical time that the military has embarked upon de-militarization of the North Central region of the country. “While Nigerian Army would not want to join issues with the elder statesman, however, certain facts need to be clearly stated in the interest of Taraba people and Nigerian public. The Nigerian Army is constitutionally charged with the responsibility of defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria and to aid civil authority whenever called upon to do so.
“In this regard, Operation Ex-Ayem Akpatuma was authorized and troops deployed to curb menace of herdsmen/farmers conflict and other criminal activities in the North Central, among others. “It is on record that the successes so far recorded in Ex-Ayem Akpatuma have been recognized and accepted by Nigerians.
“The public is notified that Nigerian Army personnel have had to pay the supreme price for ensuring the sustenance of security in Taraba State. For instance, a gallant non-commissioned officer of the Nigerian Army was beheaded on March 16, 2018 in Takum, Taraba State, by criminal elements.
Second Republic Lawmaker, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, said he cannot debate much on the issue because he has no knowledge about the accusation levelled against the military by General Danjuma.
Mohammed said: “I must say I don’t see how Nigerians will protect themselves when we have the security apparatus in place. If protecting ourselves has been this easy, then various coups that have taken place in this country would not have happened. So, on protecting ourselves, I strongly disagree with what Danjuma said.”
Alhaji Maimala Buni, the National Secretary of APC, Sunday, cautioned Nigerians against inflammatory statements capable of undermining government efforts in restoration of peace and security in the country.
Buni said “The elder statesmen have great roles in seeing the unity of Nigeria than sending signals of war and disobedience to constituted authorities,” he told Daily Trust.
“The play to gallery by elders to be seen as ethnic champions is detrimental to national unity and peaceful coexistence.
“It is only Nigerians with skeletons in their cupboards that are scared of this administration because of its fight against corruption and the no business as usual posture,” urging Nigerians to disregard advice that will only brew hate and disunity.
In his Twitter, Murtala Murtalalbin remarked “Praisers of TY Danjuma, if violence breaks out today. TY will get protection from state apparatus, escorted to his private plane and jet out for a foreign destination were his 1 per cent membership reward is hidden while you will be at the mercy of aid groups.
Mr. Aye Dee noted “Having listened and re-listened to TY Danjuma, for him to say the Armed Forces are the enemy of the people, colluding with armed bandits to kill Nigerians and for people to resort to self-help, one thing is clear, he’s calling for chaos and anarchy. This is not healthy.
Engr. Adamu Hayatu said “As defence Minister under Obasanjo, TY Danjuma supervised the Zaki Biam Massacre (Benue), Odi Massacre (Bayelsa) and Tiv/Jukun crises in his home state Taraba. But it’s apparently clear that most of you here are mad.
Buhari & all these old lousy men will go and leave you here.
Mr. Jack Robinson “Aisha is closest person to Buhari she should have addressed him in private”
“OBJ has direct access to the President, he shouldn’t have chastised him in Public”
“TY Danjuma is a former Defense Minister and Buhari holds him highly he should have talked to him privately”
Nnamdi Anekwe-Chive “Nigeria’s former Chief of Army Staff and Minister of Defence, TY Danjuma, has passed a vote of no confidence on the Nigerian Military. He accused them of collusion in many killings across the country. There is a problem.
Daddy Vladimir ‘’TY Danjuma is not a man who’s reckless with words. He’s a retired Army General, Chief of Army staff and fmr Defence minister. Take his words with all seriousness.
However, the opposition party in the country and some Nigerians have hailed the elder stateman’s opinion. In a statement signed by Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP national publicity secretary, said Danjuma’s statement had justified its stand that the Buhari presidency and the APC must be held responsible for the agonising state of the nation.
The opposition party said the fact that communities were resorting to self-defence was a clear demonstration that Nigerians across board “have completely lost confidence in President Buhari and the APC. It is instructive to recall that former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida – both former military leaders, army generals and patriots – had earlier raised the issue of continuous bloodletting in our country under the APC and the Buhari presidency.
“Painfully, the APC-controlled federal government has not only failed in finding a solution, it is also contending with allegations of conspiracy and acts that are believed to have emboldened attacks against innocent Nigerians. Nigerians are no longer feeling secure in their land. Our country has, in close to three years, assumed a status of killing fields where defenceless citizens are despoiled and mowed down by insurgents and marauders in Benue, Taraba, Yobe, Gombe, Kaduna, Adamawa, Borno, Plateau, Nasarawa, Rivers, Enugu, Kogi, among other states.”
He lamented that the federal government is not doing much to curb the spate of violence in the country. He said: “Unfortunately, the federal government remains aloof and has failed to take decisive steps that will apprehend the masterminds of the carnage. “More intriguing is that the Presidency and the APC federal government have refused to clear the air on their roles in the alleged compromise of security in troubled areas, particularly the reported withdrawal of troops from Dapchi prior to the abduction of the schoolgirls.
“Nigerians have also yet to see the action taken by President Buhari against the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, for flouting a presidential order that he should relocate to troubled Benue state in the heat of attacks on the state. Similarly, the strange silence of the federal government on the alleged importation of military equipment by APC in Kogi state remains ominous.
Commenting, Femi Fani-Kayode, a one-time Minister of Aviation, has said that comments made by the former Defence Minister, Gen. T.Y. Danjuma, are reechoing the statements he and the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, made in the past.
Fani-Kayode, writing on his Twitter page, claimed that those that laughed at him and Kanu back then, were not laughing anymore.
“There is nothing that Gen. T.Y. Danjuma said that I and others have not said before. Nnamdi Kanu said it as far back as 2014 and I said it in 2015.
“Many insulted us, called us alarmists and laughed at us at the time. They are not laughing anymore! #IstandWithDanjuma,” he tweeted.
Also reacting, Reno Omokri, former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan declared that depending on President Muhammad Buhari to provide security for Nigerians is suicidal.
Omokri, who supported Danjuma’s statement, shared his position on Twitter.
He wrote “You still doubt that Buhari is a disaster? Watch TY Danjuma’s comments.
“God bless General TY Danjuma for telling the people of Taraba to defend themselves against killer herdsmen. You are a real man! Depending on President Buhari for protection is tantamount to suicide. Kudos sir.”
Omokri observed “@BillGates spoke, they said he’s a dropout. Danjuma spoke, they labeled him anarchist. Obasanjo spoke, they say he has Messiah complex. IBB spoke, they arrested his spokesman. Kukah spoke, they told him to shut up. Nigerians spoke, they threatened us with death for hate speech!
Ben Murray-Bruce, the Senator representing Bayelsa East has reacted to the statement by former Minister for Defence, General Theophilus Danjuma advising Nigerians to defend themselves against ethnic cleansing.
The lawmaker supported Danjuma’s counsel and called on Buhari’s government to heed the message and protect Nigerians.
Bruce said that the statement by the former General shows Nigeria is in a bad state, adding that the situation calls for immediate measures.
He tweeted: “Can anyone accuse TY Danjuma of not being a patriot? How many Nigerians have done for Nigeria what TY has done for this nation? Few.Very few.
“When he talks like this, we should know that it has gotten to a very bad state. I call on the government to heed his call.”
Reacting, Prof. Itse Sagay, the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, SAN, has backed the advice by a former Minister of Defence and an elder statesman, Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd.) that Nigerians should defend themselves against killers.
Sagay told The Nation on Sunday that the law allows Nigerians to defend themselves from being massacred.
He, however, urged the Federal Government to investigate Danjuma’s allegations.
“General Danjuma did not say that the military is incapable. But he accused them of bias and not protecting the people deliberately. That’s a very, very serious accusation.
“And this is coming from such a senior man in Nigeria’s military – probably apart from former General Olusegun Obasanjo and General Yakubu Gowon, he (Dajuma) is the most senior former military officer we have – and he’s a man who has tremendous influence.
“He has held important positions – chief of staff, minister of defence – so, he won’t speak lightly. So, his allegation needs to be investigated.
“If there are elements within the military doing this, then the government has to take immediate steps to deal with them and put people who are responsible and patriotic in the positions.”
Asked whether resorting to self-defence by Nigerians would not result in anarchy, he said: “That’s an interesting point. It’s a point I’ve always made myself. It’s not an illegal measure for Nigerians to defend themselves. If you look at our criminal law, there is the principle of self-defence.
“If someone attacks you, and you feel endangered, and you defend yourself, and in the process you kill the person, the fact that you were defending yourself is a complete defence to any charge. The right already exists.
“So, I think what General Danjuma is saying is that instead of each individual exercising that right, they should begin to exercise it collectively in their communities. I think that’s reasonable too.
“There is breakdown of law and order if you’re in your house and someone comes and kills you. I think there will be less danger of breakdown of law and order if that person knows that the next time he comes to your house, all your neighbours would gather and stop him.
“So, I think it’s worse for people to lie down complacently doing nothing while they’re being massacred,” Sagay said.
Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has reacted to call by elder statesman and former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General TY Danjuma (rtd), to the people of Nigeria to defend themselves against rampaging Fulani herdsmen.
General TY Danjuma had yesterday in Taraba State called on people of the state and Nigerians in general take up arms to defend themselves in the face of the endless killings.
The Ekiti governor in support of Danjuma’s statement said it was time Buhari listened to warning concerning herdsmen.
Fayose on his twitter page wrote “General T. Y. Danjuma just said what we have said several times. There is complicity from the highest place in this country concerning these killings by herdsmen.
“I hope they won’t now remember that Gen. Danjuma keeps “looted” billions of dollars in his borehole.
“#IstandWithDanjuma. Gen. Danjuma’s position is not different from what I have said in the past. For him to have broken his silence at this time should be enough warning to @MBuhari that it is time to go back to Daura.
Two members of the House of Representatives have commended former Defence Minister, Gen. T.Y. Danjuma, for advising Nigerians who are being killed by Fulani herdsmen to defend themselves.
Reacting, however, Chairman of the House Committee on Legislative Budget and Research, Hon. Timothy Simon Golu (PDP, Plateau), said Danjuma, with his wealth of experience in the military and deep knowledge of Nigerian politics, was simply speaking the truth.
“Although, many Nigerians have been saying what Danjuma said, no one takes them serious because of their stature”, he told New Telegraph.
“But considering Danjuma’s position in the society, the army can’t fault him. Instead, they should do soul searching.”
Also, Hon. Precious Ossy (APGA, Abia) said with the General’s position, the entire security architecture of the nation should be overhauled.
His words: “Danjuma’s call means that the entire security apparatus needs to be overhauled.
“If a person of his age, experience and credible standing in the society, who also supported this government, is saying this, something is wrong somewhere.”
Before now, Muhammadu Sanusi II, the Emir of Kano, had supported the self-defence strategy to curtail incessant killings by the militias.
On Saturday, November 15, 2014 at the weekly recitation of the Holy Quran as part of prayers for peace in the country, the respected traditional ruler urged Nigerians to brace up to defend themselves against the extremist Boko Haram sect.
“These people when they attack towns, they kill boys and enslave girls… People must stand resolute.
“People must not assume that the crisis will not reach their area. If it comes, we are asking God to give us fortitude, but if He wishes to take martyrs from amongst us, we should be ready to give our lives.
“People must not wait for soldiers to protect them. There are even instances where soldiers on ground ran away in the face of attack,” the Emir said.
On December 26, 2016, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) said it would not hesitate to invoke the right to self-defence should security agents attempt to kill any of their members during peaceful protests.
The group said Biafrans were naturally law abiding and peaceful people without the history of conquest like any other major ethnic nationality in Nigeria.
A statement by Mr. Emma Powerful, the Media and Publicity Secretary of IPOB, said it adopted non-violent approach which is one of the stipulated and laid down rules of the United Nations.
It said IPOB led by Nnamdi Kanu would at all times abide by the principle unless provoked.
It noted that the mission of IPOB was to get Biafra, regardless of the human and material cost.
He said there would be no talk of negotiation until its leader, Kanu and other members detained illegally were released unconditionally as two courts of competent jurisdiction have ruled in Abuja.
The statement read: “We are highly committed to making sure Biafra comes under the command of our ordained leader and prophet, Nnamdi Kanu.
“Freedom fighting is not a child’s play. If one is not mentally and spiritually strong or has the toughness to stay on course, that person is advised to stay away. We are hitting the target and we want to restore Biafra to stop the suffering of this generation and those unborn.
“The mission of IPOB is to get Biafra regardless of the human and material cost. We want a nation where our people will be unshackled from the chains of slavery.
“The work to restore Biafra is a call from God Almighty and no man can stop the agitation unless Biafra is restored.
“What we are doing is voluntary work knowing well that we are fighting for our survival and that of our children unborn.
“Nevertheless, as long as we are genuinely and wholeheartedly fighting for the freedom of our people, we must have some challenges; our leader is making his own sacrifices for the sake of 70 million Biafrans worldwide. We, the followers of his gospel of restoration of Biafra must make our own challenges in one way or the other in order for Biafra to come.
“Many have made the supreme sacrifice at Igweocha, River State, Aba in Abia State, Nkpor and Onitsha in Anambra State for which Biafra and posterity will never forget.
“We shall honour all those that fell on this long and painful march to freedom.
“IPOB, with its calculated peaceful approach has earned world recognition. European Union, other international bodies and recognised institutions in the world have taken time to study IPOB’s grievances.”
As the controversial statement rages, the government has obligation to protect lives and property of Nigerians. The 1999 Nigerian constitution in Chapter 11 under Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy Section 14(1) stipulates The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a State based on the principles of democracy and social justice.
Section 2 states “(a) sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government through this Constitution derives all its powers and authority;
(b) the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government: and
Yet, self- defence, according to Black’s Law Dictionary, 10th Edition, is the use of force to protect oneself, one’s family, or one’s property from real or threatened attack. The principle states that a person is justified in using a reasonable amount of force in self – defense if he or she reasonably believes that the danger of bodily harm is imminent and that force is necessary to avoid this danger.
Section 286 of the Criminal Code Act states it as follows: – “when a person is unlawfully assaulted, and has not provoked the assault, it is lawful for him to use such force to the assailant as is reasonably necessary to make effectual defense against the assault:
”Provided that the force used is not intended, and is not such as is likely, to cause death or grievous harm.
“If the nature of the assault is such as to cause reasonable apprehension of death or grievous harm, and the person using force by way of defense believes, on reasonable grounds, that he cannot otherwise preserve the person defended from death or grievous harm, it is lawful for him to use any such force to the assailant as is necessary for defense, even though such force may cause death or grievous harm”.
To attack Danjuma is missing the point. He made a pertinent remark that government should use to work with for greater results. It is sheer hypocrisy for the federal government to shy away from the self-defence as enshrined in the nation’s statute book. Why can’t the government cry foul when the militias were killing people by arresting and bringing the culprits to book?
The Ortoms of this country must not cry again. Let the Ortoms tell their citizens that they must no longer watch helplessly as their loved ones are being mowed down by militias. Under the existing law of the land, the other Nigerians who are unable to pay security to protect their families and property can defend themselves. They in cooperation with state governments can resurrect Bakassi Boys, OPC Boys, the Ekpe Ikpaukot and the Niger Delta militants to defend innocent but defenceless Nigerians where the law enforcement agents are not available to discharge their constitutional responsibilities.
