TY Danjuma, others using their international connections to procure black market weapons - Middle Belt group alleges

macfranc007 March 26, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Naija news 24/7 Nnenna Ibeh

- A group has accused the former chief of army staff and the governor of Taraba state of fueling conflict in the state

- The Middle Belt Conscience Guard said Danjuma and some other individuals are using their international connection to flood the region with arms

- MBCG also said Danjuma has revealed himself as the godfather of the militias in the region

A Middle Belt group has accused a former chief of army staff, Theophilus Danjuma, and the governor of Taraba state, Darius Ishaku of fueling armed conflicts in the state.

The group while speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, March 25, said the Danjuma is using his international connections in collaboration with some governors in the region to import weapons and arm local militia that have been perpetrating mayhem in the region.

The national president of the Middle Belt Conscience Guard, Raymond Enero, while reacting to a call made by Danjuma for residents in Taraba state to defend themselves, said it is unfortunate that the former army chief who should commit to peace in the region is fueling crisis.

Enero said: "Prior to the issuance of Danjuma's poisonous directive, the Taraba state governor, Mr. Darius Ishaku has been fingered in the escalation of the crisis between the farming and pastoral communities in Taraba state, especially on the Mambila Plateau.

"The governor reportedly armed ethnic militias to carry out attacks on other ethnic groups, which consequently fueled reprisals in other states of the Middle-Belt and beyond. A couple of other states copied the Taraba example and armed militias with the same consequence of endless reprisals that have seen the circle of violence enter a continuous loop and spiraling across the country," Enero said.

He said the former army chief has also revealed himself as the godfather of the militias and the governors are merely field commanders.

"The godfather has the international connections to procure black market weapons, the limitless resources to procure the arms and the incentive to distribute them. His call is just an attempt to project an argument for the weapons to get on our streets," he added.

While insisting that the unity and peace of the country should not be sacrificed for any reason, Enero called on the military to ensure that weapons are taken off the hands of militia and ensure that peace thrives in the land.

"Danjuma’s call for people to “defend yourselves” is in no way to be taken lightly. He made that call only because he has the arsenal to deploy by way of providing weapons to his ethnic group to kill others. It has happened before during the Jukun/Tiv clashes.

There is no guarantee that the geo-political zone can survive another round of crisis fueled by TY Danjuma supplied weapons.

"The call made to the people to defend themselves is apparently out of frustration because the governors he uses as his field commanders have been stumped with the launch of Operation Ayem Akpatuma (Cat Race) by the Nigerian Army.

The operation had led to the uncovering of the militias that were armed under different and different names but all aimed at perpetrating genocide," he concluded.

NAIJ.com earlier reported that the federal government had said that Dajuma's call for residents to protect themselves against armed bandits in Taraba is an invitation to anarchy.

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FG said Danjuma's comment on ongoing killings in Taraba state is uncalled for and must be disregarded.

The spokesperson to the minister of defence said the efforts of the Nigerian Armed Forces towards restoring peace, security and order in Nigeria are evidently clear.

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