Gov Darius Ishaku of Taraba  in Thursday threw his weight behind the recent statement by a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Theophilus Danjuma which accused the army of colluding with armed bandits and a called for self defense by citizens.

Ishaku disclosed this when he hosted the Probe Panel set up by the Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Tukur Buratai to investigate the recent allegation made against the Nigerian armed  forces by the elder statesman.

“We in Taraba are fully behind what Danjuma said on self defence.

“As an ex-Army General with a high reputation, I think that call deserves to be looked into and not to be criticized because he spoke the minds of everyone in Taraba and indeed all Nigerians,” he said.

He described the coming of the committee as timely, assuring them of  a conducive working environment to succeed  in their assignment.

Ishaku explained that the frequent attacks by herdsmen led to the promulgation of the open grazing prohibition and ranches establishment law after consultations with stakeholders.

The governor  decried the activities of soldiers in Taraba who, he noted, were  going about mistreating citizens and disarming them of petty arms while ignoring those with lethal weapons.

He debunked the claim by the military that his government did not complain about all that was happening in the state.

According to him, he had visited the president, the vice president, as well as written several letters on the alarming situation and therefore the claim couldn’t have been true.

Earlier,  Chairman of the Army Probe Panel,  Retired  Maj Gen John Nimyel  sympathized with the governor and people of Taraba over the lost of lives and property in the state.

He told the governor that they were in the state to ascertain facts on the comments made by  Danjuma so as to enable them come up with ways the army can serve the country better.

According to him, members of the committee were selected based on their past track records of excellence and pledged the determination of the panel to be unbiased, free and transparent in their assignment.

“The statements by Danjuma has indeed cut short the reputation of the Armed Forces of Nigeria which cannot be ignored.

“If the Nigerian Army will continue to earn the trust and respect of the people of the state and indeed Nigerians it must investigate such a statement.

“We will do our best and visit all the three Senatorial Districts and interface with traditional rulers,  stakeholders and government representatives so as to come out with a decision as regards the allegations raised by the General,” he said.