Prominent activists, including former Minister of Youth and Sports Solomon Dalung and political figure Omoyele Sowore, have called for Nigerians to be allowed to own firearms for self-defense in response to growing insecurity across the country. They argue that escalating attacks in states like Benue, Plateau, and Kwara have left citizens vulnerable, with the police unable to effectively protect them.
Dalung, speaking at a press conference, said, “It is unfortunate that gruesome killings have been allowed to escalate across Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Kogi, Kwara, and a few parts of the North West, with lives, properties, and livelihoods destroyed in the process. If the state can’t protect Nigerians, the National Assembly should amend the constitution to allow Nigerians to bear firearms.”
Sowore echoed this sentiment, criticising the security forces for their incompetence. He stated, “We see what they have done so far as total failure. Anybody who identifies as Nigerian deserves protection. What has become clear is that we can’t have a crime of this magnitude without their enablers in government.”
Human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, also supported the call, emphasising that the police are overstretched. He said, “If we are fully convinced as I am that security agencies have failed, let’s allow people to buy guns to protect themselves. If we all have guns, who will dare to invade Plateau or Benue to terrorize the communities?”