The Middle-Belt Conscience Guard (MBCG) has called former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. TY Danjuma, to stop the ongoing killings of Tiv farmers by armed militia from the Jukun area of the state.
The group accused Danjuma of colluding with youths of Jukun tribesmen to carry out attacks on Benue farmers in Ukum LGA of the state.
MBCG in a statement signed by its president, Prince Raymond Enero, and secretary-general, Dr Paul Itodo, called on Gen. Danjuma to prevail on his kinsmen for a cease fire, urging the ex-soldier to promptly warn his tribesmen to desist from the incessant killing of Tiv people.
The statement said, “MBCG is saddened with the penchant or mentality to impulsively resort to violence and killing as a means of settling minor disputes and acrimonies by our brothers and sisters in this region.
“The ongoing violence and killings between the Jukuns and Tivs on the border communities of Kente in Wukari LGA of Taraba state and Ukum in Benue state is regrettable and most unfortunate.”
The group said “There is no sensible provocation to push the Jukun people to take up arms against their Tiv brothers either in Wukari in Taraba or Ukum in Benue state.
“Unfortunately for the purveyors of violence, the military refused to accept the malicious rumour and proceeded with its discreet investigation to find out the truth.
“We are tempted to believe that the Jukun armed militia are acting the script of Gen. TY Danjuma (rtd) who on March 24, 2018 at the Taraba state University’s maiden convocation ceremony, urged his Jukun brothers and indeed other Nigerians to self-defence.
“The former Chief of Army Staff and Defence Minister echoed that, ‘You must rise to protect yourselves from these people, if you depend on the Arm Forces to protect you, you will all die…I ask all of you to be on your alert and defend your country, defend your state’.
“We believe it is the error of judgment of this statement from Danjuma by Jukun youths that has led to the present crisis. Perhaps, the alleged killing of the military officer by Jukun youths was their idea of self-defence as propagated by Danjuma.”
