- Nigerian Army would not want to join issues with the elder statesman
The Nigerian Army on Sunday made a measured response to the allegations by the elder statesman and former minister of defence, Lt. Gen Theophilus Danjuma (retd), that the Armed Forces had been colluding with ethnic militias to kill fellow Nigerians.
Danjuma, who had, on Saturday, told Nigerians to defend themselves against killers in the country, saying the armed forces were not ready to defend them, spoke at the maiden convocation of the Taraba State University, Jalingo, and the 10th anniversary of the institution.
The retired Army general made his statement barely two days after residents of the Takum and Ussa Local Government Areas of Taraba State accused the Army Operation Ayem Akpatuma (Cat Race) of providing cover for the killer herdsmen to attack and kill villagers in the areas.
But the Nigerian Army in a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Texas Chukwu, said that it would not want to join issues with Danjuma on his allegations against the Armed Forces.
The Army, however, said that its ongoing operations in the country’s North Central region were authorised and its successes had been recognised and accepted by Nigerians even as military personnel deployed in the crisis area had continued to pay the supreme price for the restoration of peace in Taraba State.
The full text of the Army’s statement entitled: “Nigerian Army press statement on the alleged military collusion with militias/criminals made by former chief of Army staff,” and signed by Chukwu, reads: “The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to the unfortunate statement made by a former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, during the convocation ceremony of the Taraba State University on Saturday 24 March 2018 in which he categorically asserted that the Armed Forces of Nigeria was colluding with militias and other criminal elements and was unable to provide security for the citizens of Taraba State. He further called the people of Taraba State to take up arms and defend themselves. The Nigerian Army views this statement made by the former Chief of Army Staff as most unfortunate at this critical time that the military has embarked upon demilitarisation 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 the Taraba People and the Nigerian public:
“The Nigerian Army is constitutionally charged with the responsibility of defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria and to aid the civil authority whenever called upon to do so. In this light, the authorisation for the conduct of Ex AYEM AKPATUMA was authorised and troops deployed to curb menace of the herdsmen-farmers conflict and other criminal activities in the North Central Region amongst others.
“It is on record that the successes so far achieved in Ex AYEM AKPATUMA have been recognised 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-commission officer of the Nigerian Army was beheaded on 16 March 2018 in Takum Taraba State by criminal elements.
“It is noteworthy to state that at the inception of Ex AYEM AKPATUMA, the Taraba State Government, did not cooperate with the Nigerian Army due to the Army’s stance to remain absolutely neutral in the herdsmen-farmers crisis. The Nigerian Army will continue to remain as such.
“For avoidance of doubt, the Nigerian Army advises the people of Taraba State and indeed all other Nigerians to continue in their day-to-day activities and be law abiding as anyone caught with arms and ammunition will be dealt with accordance with the laws of the land. Every law-abiding citizen is assured of equal protection and security of their lives and property irrespective of his/her person.”
