From Tom Garba, Yola
A former Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen Theophilus Danjuma (rtd) at the weekend urged residents in Taraba State to defend themselves from killers across the state, instead of depending on the protection of Nigerian military that is “biased”.
Danjuma dropped the startling advice at the maiden convocation and 10th anniversary of the Taraba State University, Jalingo.
The elder statesman alleged that the Armed Forces of Nigeria at the moment were providing cover for ruthless killers.
His words: “You must rise to protect yourselves from these people. If you depend on the Armed 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 Armed Forces are not neutral, they are conniving with the armed bandits that are killing people.”
Danjuma described Taraba as a miniature Nigeria with beautiful cultures which the bandits were doing everything to destroy.
In his comments, Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba expressed delight over the growth of the university over the last 10 years.
Ishaku commended the founding fathers of the institution for their foresight in bringing university education to the doorsteps of the Taraba people.
He pledged to continue to support the university to attain a world class status.
Vice Chancellor (VC) of the school, Prof., Vicent Tenebe, commended the state government for its continued support for the rapid growth of the university.
Tenebe congratulated the 5, 900 graduands across the first five sets of the university, urging them to be good ambassadors of the institution.
Honorary doctorate degrees were conferred on Danjuma, Sen. Jeremiah Useni and Governor Ishaku, Mr. Tony Elumelu, the chairman of Tony Elumelu Foundation and former Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) Prof. Suileman Bogoro.
Danjuma has earlier in the day inaugurated the 6.75 km Magami link road constructed by Governor Ishaku.
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