Amnesty International Report: Danjuma Has Been Vindicated, Says JDAN

Sunday Okobi

A socio-political and cultural group, Jukun Development Association of Nigeria (JDAN), has described the latest Amnesty International (AI) report indicting the Nigerian Army as accomplices in the killings and  destructions by Fulani herdsmen as a vindication of earlier warnings by one of her sons Gen Theophilus Danjuma (rtd).

The AI in its latest report also indicted the Nigerian Government of "incompetence" and the Nigerian Army of "not only gross negligence, but accomplices in the killings and destructions by Fulani herdsmen" that took place in most parts of northern Nigeria between 2016 and 2018.

The association National President, Chief Benjamin Bako, stated this when he spoke with journalists in Lagos on Wednesday, adding that the AI report is a welcome development.

According to him, Danjuma and JDAN have been vindicated in the eye of world that the allegations of "collusion by the Nigeria army and Fulani herdsmen in the wanton killings in the middle belt and some parts of Igbo land were very accurate after all."

Bako described the former Defence Minister as "a man of proven high integrity and sound moral standards, who is not given to frivolities and doesn't speak without prove."

He further said: "As an elder statesman Danjuma's intervention was to help the institution which has given him fame and prominence to rediscover itself thereby purging itself of bad elements that are bent on destroying the good reputation and excellent tradition of the military institution. Rather, Danjuma was called all manners of names and hunted like  a commoner."

Bako posited that the global justice group's report has further validated "our own call as a group that the Nigerian Government and its army take Danjuma's view on the collusion within its ranks with the herdsmen seriously and take preemptive actions against fifth columnists."

The Jukun’s leader said by beaming its searchlight on the herdsmen's activities, especially in some parts of the country, Amnesty International has proven once again that it is the saviour of the world poor and oppressed.

Bako also pointed out that the AI reports should be treated as a yardstick by not only Jukun people but Nigerians in general, in taking decisions that concern 2019 and the future of Nigeria.