War Veteran rejects Danjuma’s call for self defence

By Osaigbovo Iguobaro Benin

A veteran of the Nigeria Civil war, Col. Paul Ogbebor (Rtd) has rejected the call by a former Chief of Army Staff, Theophilus Danjuma, urging citizens to defend themselves from the attacks by killer herdsmen in some parts of Nigeria.
Danjuma had also accused the military of bias against a particular group in the Country.
Ogbebor spoke at an interactive session with journalists on Wednesday in Benin City.
He, however, admitted that: “Dajuma is a highly respected retired Army General who has contributed so much to the building of this country.
According to him, “From my training and experience in my background (military), seeing his body language, that was why I think some of us should make statement also”.
He said “first of all, the duty of internal security is in the hands of the Police. Not the army. The military is supposed to safeguard the country against external invasion. And to assist in internal security.
“The total officers and men we have in the military today are so few. They cannot police this country and that is not their training.
“For my former GOC to have blamed the military for that one and ask Nigerians to take up arms I think is disappointment taken too far. What we should do is to put our heads together and proffer solution to the problem of herdsmen.
“Since the military and police cannot effectively hold the ground, retirees of police and military in the last 10 years should be mobilized to hold the ground in each of the State were they reside because they know their area best.
“Without holding weapons, their presence along is enough. they should be able to give early warning to the organized police and military so that if anything happen, the security personnel will be able to come there within a short time and act.”