.NSA assures of FG’s commitment to end insecurity
By Our reporters
The ranks of proponents of self defence against growing insecurity in Nigeria has continued to swell. But Jigawa state governor, Umar Namadi, says it will lead to anarchy.
Last week, former Chief of Army Staff, General T.Y. Danjuma renewed the debate for self defence when he urged Nigerians to defend themselves against bandits and armed attackers, particularly in Benue and Plateau States.
Danjuma, who gave the advice during a get together in Takum, Taraba State, during the weekend, said citizens should not fold their arms and allow bandits and terrorists over run their lives and livelihood. He warned that if citizens failed to defend themselves, bandits and terrorists would simply kill, maim and overrun comuniities.
Danjuma’s position was supported by the Plateau State branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), which called on the federal government to train locals, and allow them to defend communities against the marauding invaders.
The NBA said this has become necessary since the security personnel are not enough to secure the lives of the people. The association also backed the establishment of State Police, which it said will assist in nipping incessant killings in the bid.
Leah Hassan, Chairman of Jos Branch of the NBA, said yesterday that senseless killings have shattered the peace of the state and that the situation can no longer be treated with indifference or vague promises. She tasked security agencies to rise to the occasion and guarantee the safety of lives and property in the area.
“It is utterly heart-wrenching that while Plateau State is yet to recover from the horror and pain of previous attacks, our peace is once again shattered by another wave of senseless and barbaric killings.
“These acts of violence are a direct assault on our shared humanity, the rule of law, and the fundamental right to life as enshrined in our Constitution.
“We demand the immediate identification, arrest, and prosecution of the perpetrators of these wicked acts, that all perpetrators who are arrested be prosecuted in Plateau State and not taken to Abuja, where we no longer hear anything about them again, suggesting that they have been released.
“The Federal Government should deploy adequate security personnel to vulnerable communities with clear mandates for community protection.
“States should be allowed to establish State Police who will be armed with weapons to defend our communities, the establishment of a conflict resolution and early warning mechanism through collaboration with community leaders, civil society, and security stakeholders.
“The Federal Government should empower vulnerable communities with self-defense mechanisms and equipment since the current security personnel are not enough to secure our lives, and provision of relief and rehabilitation materials be made for affected persons, particularly women and children, and resettlement of displaced communities be done within the shortest possible time,” Hassan said.
Jigawa’s Governor Namadi, however warned against self-defence by individuals and communities, saying that it can plunge the country into anarchy.
He spoke on Channels Television on Monday in response to Danjuma.
“He (Danjuma) is a very senior security person, and his words deserve respect and analysis. But I think if you say citizens should be allowed to defend themselves, you’re causing anarchy. I don’t think we’ve reached that level yet.”
He argued that rather than encourage armed self-defence, the government at all levels must continue to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.
“The government is doing its best in terms of security arrangements. If you allow the people to defend themselves, that means you are encouraging a crisis between farmers and herders,” the governor warned.
Namadi cited his administration’s approach to resolving the long-standing farmer-herder clashes in Jigawa State as a better alternative. According to him, when he assumed office, he prioritised non-violent conflict resolution strategies.
“When we came in, we decided to employ a lot of strategies and tactics, including dialogue,” he said.
“We engaged traditional rulers, as well as representatives of both farmers and herders. We sat down, reached a consensus, and established standing committees to reconcile all parties.”
He claimed that these efforts helped halt a decades-long conflict, because “people now understand that the 25 years spent fighting and killing each other were not worth it. Today, they are able to work, interact, and live together in peace.”
Governor Namadi’s views might not be very popular even in the north where he’s governor of a major state.
Just a few years ago in 2022, current Minister of State for Defence, Muhammad Bello Matawalle, then governor of Zamfara State Governor, insisted on arming Zamfara citizens with weapons to defend themselves against bandits ravaging their communities.
Similarly, Aminu Bello Masari, as Katsina State Governor in 2021, called on residents of the state to defend themselves against bandits.
Masari explained that the state with a population of over eight million lacked adequate security personnel to protect them, hence the need for residents to prioritise self-defence.
He affirmed that the state government was ready to partner with individuals or groups that would want to assist with ideas or resources that will bring total end to banditry in the state.
Also in 2022, the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), called on residents to arm themselves against bandits and terrorists in self-defence. The group also called on Northern governors and leaders to join hands with willing citizens to protect and secure their communities from bloodthirsty killers.
CNG, in a statement released by its Director, Strategic Communication, Samaila Musa, said that the body remained committed to work and advise interested leaders on addressing the perennial security problems in the country.
The statement read: “We note that the effort by the Zamfara State Government is aimed at involving and directly engaging communities in protecting, preserving, and defending their lives and livelihoods against marauding terrorist-bandits that are terrorising and pillaging our communities with little or no requited force.”
Meanwhile, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, has reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government to tackling insecurity in the country.
Ribadu stated this yesterday during a chat with journalists at the Government House in Makurdi.
He was in Benue over the lingering attacks that have claimed over 120 lives lately.
“We are fully committed to supporting the Governor in tackling insecurity and will continue to stand with him to defeat this menace,” Ribadu said.
He also conveyed the President’s firm resolve to bring an end to insecurity, saying, “The President has directed me to reaffirm his determination to eliminate this threat.”
He also acknowledged the efforts of the Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, in addressing insecurity but warned against individuals exploiting the situation for personal gain.
Ribadu was received at the Government House in Makurdi by Governor Hyacinth Alia, members of the National Assembly and other top government functionaries.