A northern group, Arewa Grassroot Leaders Assembly (AGLA), has supported the growing calls for Nigerians to defend themselves against rising insecurity, especially in rural areas affected by bandit attacks.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, AGLA President, Collins Onogu, urged the Federal Government to legalise the use of AK-47 rifles for self-defence in rural communities.
Onogu said, “This is a grim reminder of the security challenges facing our nation. We demand that the government legalise the possession of AK-47s for self-defence in rural communities, with proper monitoring and regulation.”
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He also asked the government to send more security personnel to troubled areas and to form a task force that would track and arrest those responsible for the violence.
Onogu added, “We propose that the government support community-led security initiatives, including community vigilante groups and neighbourhood watches. AGLA will continue to monitor the situation and hold the government accountable for the safety and security of our people. We demand action, not rhetoric. The government must act now.”
A former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, had earlier joined others in calling for citizens to be allowed to own firearms to protect themselves.
Many communities in the North have suffered repeated attacks from bandits, with little or no help from security forces, leaving residents feeling helpless and calling for urgent action.