The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, has faulted the directive of Bello Matawalle, governor of Zamfara, asking residents of the state to take up arms against bandits.
Owing to the security challenges in the state, Matawalle had recently asked Zamfara residents to take up arms and defend themselves against bandits.
The governor also directed the state police command to issue gun licences to all who qualify and are willing to obtain firearms to defend themselves.
Reacting on Monday, Irabor said the call was not right, as the armed forces and other security agencies are available to handle security challenges.
Irabor spoke to journalists at the opening of the joint exercise for the National Defence College and war colleges of the armed forces of Nigeria, code-named ‘Exercise Grand Nationale’, in Abuja.
Irabor also said the directive will raise issues around the provisions of the constitution.
“I believe that, in my view, it is not the right way to go,” Irabor said.
“Of course, there are actions that members of the security agencies and the armed forces, in particular, the police and other security agencies are doing to address insecurity in Zamfara and environs.
“Beyond that, of course, there are other legal issues, other issues of governance, issues that the government could have addressed using the instrumentality of the law that are available for him to bring greater peace and security.
“But like I said, I do not intend to say much about it, but I believe that the federal government, using the attorney-general, will look at the details of that press release and give further instruction.
“If what I read is true, I do not also think that the governor has the power to instruct the commissioner of police to issue licences because the commissioner of police does not have the power to issue licences.”
Irabor also said the armed forces are doing their best to address insecurity in the country, in line with the provisions of the constitution.
“I believe that what we are doing in Zamfara and, of course, across the states of the federation, is in deference to the provisions of the constitution, So, we are there to give support to the civil authority, in this case, the police.
“We do not need to restate what the issues are that have led to the deployment of the military across the country. But then, as I said, we are doing the very best to ensure that peace returns to every part of the country,” he said.
Meanwhile, Following the directive of Zamfara state government that the state Commissioner of Police, CP, should give license to citizens who wish to procure guns to protect themselves, some Nigerians have said it is not the best way to address the security challenges of the nation.
Recall that Zamfara state government had weekend urged its citizens especially farmers to obtain guns and basic weapons to defend themselves against any form of attack.
Reacting to the directive, the Chairman of Osun Civil Societies Coalition (CSOs), Comrade Waheed Lawal said the government has failed in its responsibility and the people are beginning to resort to jungle justice.
Lawal warned that people will begin to take drastic steps to protect themselves which might compound matters.
“When the government fails in their responsibility to provide security for their citizens, people will resort to jungle justice. With this the governor is assisting them by saying go and get guns to protect yourself. Ordinarily, when the government fails in their responsibility, there is no shortcut to this than people taking drastic steps to protect their lives and properties,” he said.
Speaking on the essence of State Policing, the analyst said the Nigerian Constitution must be amended for the Community, Local Government and State Government Policing to be accommodated to complement the efforts of the conventional Nigeria Police Force for adequate security in the nation.
Fielding questions from our correspondent on the subject, a legal practitioner, Adenitan Akinola described the directive of Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle as a product of the fundamental failure of the government.
Akinola stated that it is the duty of the government to protect the citizens, adding that the government is beginning to shift its responsibility to the citizens it swore to protect.
He explained, “By the provision of section 14(2) of the Constitution, the welfare and the security of the people are the major responsibility of the government.
“Looking at the origin of government, people came together and submitted their authorities to a single authority called government for the sake of protecting their rights, safeguarding their rights and protecting them also from any infringement. If the government fails to fulfill that responsibility, it is not fit to be a government and should resign rather than calling on the people to take up their responsibility.”
On the the social, economic and political implication of that directive, Akinola said, “in Nigeria, with this our level of consciousness and development, even without the licensing of guns, you see the level of bestiality we demonstrate. You hear– wife kill husband, husband kill wife. Things unimaginable happen around, so imagine that a Nigerian is licensed to carry guns, even someone owing N20, he can go there and kill the person.
“For me, it is not a necessary call. What we should do as a government is to put on their thinking cap and be very innovative. It shouldn’t be too difficult to protect Zamfara. In this era of science and technology when technology has been so developed that you can monitor objects within a radius of 2000km–3000km.
“Rather than calling on the citizens to take up arms, the government should either resign or go back to the drawing board to find ways to protect its citizens. The banditry seen today is a product of the failure of the government. This bestiality has built up over time and now the government wants to shift it’s responsibility to the people.”
On state policing, the legal practitioner corroborated that it is the way to go, explaining that crimes are local and need local hands.
“One of the burdens at the federal level is policing. Police should be liberalised. Allow police to be controlled by the state. You can have a federal agency but allow each state to be empowered and have its own police. If you transfer a man from the north, he does not understand the terrain of Osun state.
“Every crime is local, a crime cannot be internationally connected if there is no local conspirator. Talking from the perspective that crime is local, they should own their police. Each state should have their police, pay their police according to their capacity, and recruit police officers based on its need and size. Each state has different sizes and local government areas.
“State policing is in line with federalism. If truly we run a federal state, then we shouldn’t restrain from adopting such a fundamental change,” he concluded.
Licensing ownership of guns will aggravate crime, Nnadi, SAN
Mixed reactions have trailed the proposal by Zamfara state Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle that Nigerians should be allowed to freely carry licensed arms for self defense following worsening insecurity in the country.
In his own opinion, a legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Chief Donald Azuka Nnadi believed that the proposal if put into fruition, will worsen the already bad situation.
He said, “it cannot work in Nigeria because there is no proper enlightenment on individual use of fire arms”.
The legal luminary, faulted the proposal by the Zamfara state Governor and said, “Mr Governor was not properly advised before he made the proposal”.
He however suggested that instead, the National Assembly should make efforts to get the approval for State Place.
According to him, “irrespective of the side implications of State Police, it is better than allowing Nigerians to carry guns in the name of self defense”
Also barring her mind, a politician Chief Mrs Theresa Igboayaka, kicked against the proposal.
She said, “this will increase the incidence of kidnapping, armed robbery and other heinous crimes in the country. Nigerian Government has not presented a good security architecture and network to allow free use of arms in this country”
According to her, ” Zamfara state Government and in fact Federal Government of Nigeria should with out delay, retrieve the guns in the hands of the Fulani herdsmen”
She accused the leadership of the cattle breeders association of being responsible for the high insecurity in Nigeria
According to her, “the cattle breeders, brought into the country Fulani herders from other African countries with the cover of President Muhammadu Buhari”
Meanwhile, Mr. Salaudeen Hashim, Programme Manager Civil Society Legislative Centre CISLAC said ‘’For me, is not particularly a strategic idea. Gun laws is something that should be thought through before it is eventually provided to the citizens as an access. So I believe that if you have to issue such directive without adequate strategic plan, you might just be creating anarchy in the state.
“You can recall since 2007, that there has been an embargo on the issuance of gun licence. Security is not about armament, it is about human capital development. It is about intelligence gathering more than self defence. In trying to create this solution of arming citizens to protect themselves, we might be creating new and emerging problems that will confront the state.
“Two things will likely happen: There will be emergence of new gangs who will have access to arms, people who will be doing gun running and stockpiling. Secondly, we will have a consortium of new conflict merchants. The state should design a more robust approach instead of Issuing a blanket approach to carry arms.
“Even those countries that have such laws are trying to regulate it. I think it is a colossal failure on the part of the state to create such decision. The way out is to invest in human capital, human transmission, social development.
“If those things are carefully and coordinately done, the tendencies are that we might have a level of de escalation. What the road map for recovery? There must be a road map that has exhausted the potentials of safety and security.
“The state needs to look at experience in the Southwest where the government created a kind of informal policing system. How can they borrow lessons from them, bring community into policing. There should be investment in intelligence and informal policing system and gun carrying should the last option to go for”, he stated
According to him, “it shows the failure of government in that state. What has the government been doing with the security votes he has been getting? Telling people to get gun to protect themselves in a volatile area like the north is giving people permission to use gun against one another at the slightest provocation. It will increase the killing of innocent people and lead to human rights abuse and deaths.
“The way out of the insecurity in that state is for the government to properly equip the police and the military. They should engage in intelligence gathering. The military need modern day equipment, gadgets to confront these terrorists likewise the police. They need to recruit committed ex service men, vigilante members and young men to work with the military and the police.
On his part, Mr. Ebenezer Omejalile, security analyst and human right activist noted that, “Issuing guns to members of the public for self protection has never been done in Nigeria so the idea is funny and not a welcome development . Rather , community policing and motivation for the security personnel will up security in that state.
Similarly, Dr. Israel Ameh, a security expert, noted that: “Security operatives need to be properly motivated and equipped. They need life insurance policy. They need to know that their families will be taken care of when they lay their lives for the safety of others. The people must be part of the security architecture, provide job for the youth and cater for the children of deceased person’s so that they will not be left to fend for themselves by joining the terrorists
Meanwhile, a retired police officer who pleaded anonymity said State Police is the way out. “We can continue to shy away from it. Let each state has its own policemen and let the governor be the chief security officer. That is the best thing for the security of our country. They need to cater for police and military men.
“Their welfare when they are serving and after they leave the Force should be well catered for. Training and retraining of officers should be done when necessary. Allowing people to own guns will be counterproductive in the nearest future. It can work now but eventually, it will be abused
In his reaction, the chief executive officer, CEO, Cenetric Security, Mr. Amali Amali, said “looking at the level of killing going in Zamfara state, the killing there has become unbearable and we cannot continue like that. By and large , there is a law banning individuals from owing arms in the country and the state has to go through the National Assembly. Security challenges can be tackled if the military, the secret police and police employ intelligence gathering. Our security agencies should do more.
Gun license ‘ll end insecurity——-Eddo
Also, a presidential Aspirant of the Accord Party, Mr. Folorunso Aremu Eddo has said the gun license as suggested by the Zamfara State government may go a long way in ending the rising insecurity in the country.
This is even as he maintained that this may be the only option for citizens since the federal government has failed in securing the lives and properties of the people across the country.
Zamfara State government recently directed citizens in the state to obtain guns to defend themselves against bandits, a move many see as a sign of a failed state.
In an interview with Daily Champion, Eddo maintained that he is in support of any effort geared towards ensuring the protection of citizens.
He said, “For now there is no other option for Nigerians since we have ineffective and unwilling Security agencies. The death toll is just piling up and there is no help coming from this administration. I support any effort for the citizens to protect themselves.
“The only reason this atrocity is continuing is that nobody is fighting back. I cannot understand how 20 okada rider comes into a town, nobody sees them coming or leaving. It is beyond my comprehension. Yes get a gun, get anything and defend yourself since the government will not protect you.
“People cannot be running around like malu every time bandits show up in town, they need to fight back. At least deputies about 20 people in each village as a defense force and arm them with weapons. It will put an end to all this nonsense. This administration is complicit that is why they cannot stop,” he said.
The Zamfara State government also banned the use of motorcycles, otherwise known as Okada, in the state and directed security to shoot at sight any violator of the Okada ban. This is aside from banning the sale of petrol to bike operators in the state. It equally gave orders for the immediate closure of markets in three districts in the state.
The state’s Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Dosara, who stated this in a statement, yesterday, said the directive was a result of the increase in the activities of bandits in various parts of the state, adding that it was committed to ensuring adequate security and protection of lives and property of the citizenry in the state, particularly during this rainy season,.
He explained that the government had resolved to take further measures to deal with the recent escalating attacks, kidnapping, and the criminal levies being enforced on innocent citizens of communities in the state.
It’s recipe for more crises, says ex-AIG
Meanwhile, a former Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Federal Operations Hakeem Odumosu (retd) on Sunday described as a dangerous trend, the directive by Zamfara State government that the people should bear firearms in self-defence.
As part of measures to curb terrorism and armed violence, the government at the weekend announced that the Commissioner of Police (CP) in Zamfara State, Ayuba Elkanah, had been directed to licence arms to people to defend themselves.
Odumosu said it would lead to proliferation of firearms and compound the security challenges.
He emphasised that by the regulation, only the President and Commander-in-Chief has the power to licence firearms for anyone, adding that he doubted President Muhammadu Buhari would approve the Zamfara measure.
Odumosu said security agencies should be adequately equipped, trained and provided actionable intelligence to deal with terrorists and other criminal elements.
He said: “It is a dangerous route to take. It will not solve the problem. Firstly, why give gun licence to people who do not have basic weapon handling training and sight testing? What if you give them these guns and as a result of poor sights, they shoot other innocent people?
“Then, the problem we are currently facing is as a result of proliferation of small and light arms. Allowing the people to bear weapons will worsen. More guns will be in the hands of non-state actors and that will cause more problems for security agencies.
“What we should be doing is equipping and training security agencies to confront these challenges. Then, enlighten the people to provide timely and actionable information to security agencies,” he said.
