The greatest challenge Nigeria has been plagued with in more than a decade has been security-related. Boko Haram insurgents took up arms against the Nigerian government in 2009. From their strongholds in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States in the northeast, the sect has caused the death of hundreds of thousands of people, massive destruction of property, and displacement of millions of others. In 2016, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) entered the arena of violence, fighting both government forces and members of Boko Haram.
In the past few years, general insecurity has been widespread largely perpetrated by bandits, kidnappers, and cultists. Another battle that has been raging in the country is between herders and sedentary farmers over access to grazing lands. Bandits now labeled terrorists by the government roam the states in the northwest, principally Zamfara, Katsina, and Kaduna killing, pillaging, and kidnapping innocent citizens and foreigners for ransom. They have also made their presence strongly felt in Sokoto, Taraba, Plateau, and Niger States.
The media is awash with stories of abductions for ransom. People have been kidnapped from their homes, offices, schools, playgrounds, farmlands, churches, mosques, driveways, and in public transport, and taken into the forest, where they are kept for months until a ransom was paid. The kidnap-for-ransom industry in Nigeria is very large and lucrative and constitutes a veritable source of quick wealth for the players. Recently, the prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria was kidnapped while traveling on the highway; the church members paid N100 million ransom for his release after two days in captivity.
Insecurity abounds in every part of the country. In the southeast, the Eastern Security Network was allegedly formed to protect farmers from attacks by armed herdsmen. But the group has been embroiled in deadly clashes with government security forces. Military formations and security personnel have been victims of attacks by bandits, terrorists, and unknown gunmen in recent times. Many of them have been killed, kidnapped, or missing after those attacks.
Several factors are responsible for banditry, kidnapping, and general insecurity in Nigeria. Unemployment is a major factor and contributor to violence. The Nigerian economy has experienced its worst downturn in many years, making it impossible for young graduates to get jobs. Those who are lucky to secure employment are, in most cases, underpaid.
Poverty is another cankerworm that has eaten deep into the fabric of the nation. Nigeria is now tagged the ‘poverty capital of the world.’ The precarious socioeconomic situation, compounded by high inflation, nepotism, corruption, and resentment of urban elites has metamorphosed into diverse forms of criminality.
Easy access to small arms and light weapons has fueled criminal activities. There are millions of illegal weapons in circulation in Nigeria. The availability of illegal drugs, especially Tramadol and Indian hemp, is a major contributory factor to violent crimes in Nigeria. Some ‘bad eggs’ in the security forces have been fingered and accused of complicity in the violence.
The methods adopted by the government to quell the banditry and other acts of violence have not yielded positive results. The federal government once ordered the security forces to shoot at sight any person found in the bush with an AK-47 riffle. This order has not achieved anything as the bandits and other armed groups continue to inflict violence, injury, and death on the populace. Arguably the government is not getting its desired results and appears to have run out of ideas or options on how to tackle the problem. This is perhaps what has precipitated the call by governors Masari and Matawalle for self-defense, and supported by governor Akeredolu.
The former governor of Katsina State, Aminu Masari, sometime in 2021 urged locals to take up arms and defend themselves against bandits and terrorists. According to Masari, the nation’s security apparatus has failed or is unable to protect the people as well as stem the tide of insecurity in the state.
Mr. Masari blames the security vacuum partly on the insufficient number of security personnel to engage the terrorists. Justifying his call for self-defense, the governor said “It’s Islamically allowed for one to defend himself, his family and assets. If you die while trying to defend yourself, you’ll be considered a martyr. It’s surprising how a bandit would own a gun while a good man trying to defend himself and his family doesn’t.” Governor Massari offered assistance to those who intend to legally procure arms for self-defense against bandit attacks.
Another former governor, Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State has also urged citizens to arm themselves against bandits and called on the Commissioner of Police in the state to issue gun licenses to eligible residents. The call for self-defense has not gone down well with some persons and groups. The Chief of Defence Staff said the governor lacks the power to give such an order. Afenifere and the Middle Belt Forum said the call was an indication of the failure of government, and advocated the establishment of state police.
However, legally putting guns in the hands of millions of people for self-defense is certainly a call to anarchy. In the United States of America, citizens go about with their guns for protection. Maybe Nigeria could borrow a leaf from the US, where ownership of a gun is a constitutional right so that every Nigerian qualified to carry a gun can stand up to criminals.
Should Nigerians be allowed to carry arms to defend themselves?
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