Retired General Calls for Self-Defense as Insecurity Worsens…Nigerian Army Detains Soldier Over Illegal Ammo Possession…Police Say No Evidence as Locals Claim New Terror Group is Taking Over…Bishop Paints Grim Picture of Nigeria’s Insecurity
- ‘Stand Up and Defend Yourselves,’ Ex-Defense Chief Tells Nigerians
Retired Nigerian Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma has urged citizens to defend themselves against rising insecurity, saying the government can no longer be relied upon for protection.
Speaking Saturday, Danjuma reiterated a warning he first issued five years ago, stressing that worsening violence across the country has validated his concerns.
“We cannot continue to sit and watch while bandits, terrorists, and criminal gangs massacre our people unchecked,” The Punch quoted the former Defense boss as saying.
Danjuma pointed to ongoing attacks in Benue and Plateau states, where dozens have been killed and communities displaced in recent weeks. He criticized the government’s failure to ensure safety, urging Nigerians to take proactive steps to protect themselves.
“It is now very clear that the government alone cannot protect us,” Danjuma said. His comments reflect growing frustration with Nigeria’s security situation, as armed groups continue to target rural communities with little effective response from authorities.
- Nigerian Soldier Arrested With Over 200 Rounds of Unauthorized Ammunition
A 25-year-old Nigerian soldier has been arrested for illegal possession of ammunition in Jaji, Kaduna State. Private Yahaya Yunusa, attached to the 197 Special Forces Battalion in Zamfara State, was detained Friday around 11:55 a.m. local time while reportedly carrying 214 rounds of linked and unlinked military-grade ammunition.
An internal report obtained by SaharaReporters revealed Yunusa was found with 50 rounds of 12.7×108mm and 69 rounds of 7.62×54mmR (both linked), 35 unlinked 7.62×54mmR rounds, and 60 rounds of 5.56×45mm.
During questioning, Yunusa allegedly confessed to retrieving the ammunition during field operations, claiming he operated an anti-aircraft gun on a military vehicle.
Authorities have not disclosed his motive or whether he intended to distribute the ammunition. Investigations are ongoing, and the military has yet to release an official statement on the arrest.
- New Militant Group, Mahmuda, Reportedly Taking Over North-Central Kwara State, Police Deny Claims
A new terror group called Mahmuda is reportedly terrorizing remote villages in Kwara State, northwest Nigeria, attacking community self-defense guards and seizing control of communities. Residents claim the militants kill, kidnap, demand ransom, and force locals to pay dues and labor on militant-run farms.
SaharaReporters said the latest attack was on Friday and shared a video showing the aftermath. “The militants were only able to set fire on motorcycles and a car belonging to our local security operatives,” a resident said, adding that local guards repelled the attackers, killing two.
Despite growing fears, Kwara police have dismissed the reports. Spokesperson Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi called them “entirely false,” insisting, “No breach of internal security has been reported or observed.”
Still, concerns persist. Locals allege the militants control wide areas while authorities remain passive. Police, however, urge the public to avoid spreading “unverified information that could generate unnecessary panic.”
- Bishop Kukah to President Tinubu: “Bring Us Down from This Cross of Insecurity”
In his Easter message, Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, Catholic Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, issued a passionate plea to President Bola Tinubu to urgently address Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.
“Every day, innocent citizens are kidnapped and held under the most inhuman conditions,” Kukah said. “Now, Mr. President, Nigeria is reaching a breaking point. The nation is gradually becoming a huge national morgue.”
He described Nigeria as hanging on a “cross of evil,” weighed down by banditry, kidnappings, and brutal violence. “Mr. President, please, bring us down from this cross of insecurity,” he urged.
The bishop lamented how bandits now operate freely, threatening national unity and destroying communal life. He accused authorities of standing idle as the nation sinks deeper into chaos.
“We now hang on the cross at the mercy of these forces of darkness,” Kukah warned. “Step up, get to the finishing line and bring us down from this cross of shame.”
—Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
