From John Adams, Minna
Jonathan Vatsa, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism in Niger State, has urged Nigerians to defend themselves following the Defence Headquarters’ (DHQ) revelation that foreign erders are behind mass killings in Benue, Plateau, and other states.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Minna, Vatsa called the DHQ’s disclosure a clarion call for citizens to protect themselves from foreign invaders.
Vatsa was responding to a statement by Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye, Director of Defence Media Operations, who said during a Thursday press briefing in Abuja that foreign herders perpetrate most violent attacks on local communities and farmers in Plateau, Benue, and other regions.
“This revelation from the military high command is enough reason for Nigerians to wake up from their slumber and defend themselves from being wipe out by these foreigners who have invaded the country for economic war,” Vatsa stated.
He claimed that foreign herders, in connivance with local counterparts, enter Nigeria through porous borders for economic gain, targeting kidnapping and cattle rustling.
“I reliablely gathered that these foreign Herders invade the country for economic missions, inconnivance with their local counterparts to unleashed terror on the people. They said Nigerians are rich and when you kidnapped them, they are ready to pay any amount,” he said. Vatsa highlighted the ease with which these herders cross borders, exploiting ungoverned communities lacking security presence.
Vatsa argued that the need for self-defence is overdue, noting the disparity in armament: “The difference between Nigerians and these armed foreign invaders is that they carry gun and Nigerians are not allowed to carry gun.”
He criticised political leaders who downplay the crisis, particularly those protected by heavy security details. “It is laughable to hear some political leaders who became what they are by accident, arguing that the security situation in the country has not gotten to the level where Nigerians should be allowed to defend themselves in a country where people die every day as if the country is at war,” he said.
He warned that the death toll from insecurity over the past decade surpasses that of the Nigerian Civil War, yet some leaders remain dismissive. “I said it before and I will say it again that the total number of Nigerians that have been killed in the last 10 years is more than the number of people killed during the Nigeria civil war, and yet someone is sitting under air-condition with over 200 security agents around him saying that the security situation has not gotten to the level of Nigerians to defend themselves,” Vatsa added.
Vatsa cautioned that leaders failing to address insecurity may become victims after leaving office, urging practical action over mere statements. “Nigerians are tired of paper talk, what is needed as far as the security situation in the country is concerned is practical action not mere statement for newspaper publication,” he concluded.