Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, and political activist Omoyele Sowore have joined other members of the Coalition of Nigerian Patriots to demand that citizens be allowed to carry guns to protect themselves.
They made this call during a press conference in Abuja on Friday, following several deadly attacks in Benue, Plateau, Kwara, and other parts of the country.
Dalung said the killings had gone on for too long and that people could no longer rely on the government for protection.
“It is even more disturbing that a viral video shows a group claiming responsibility for these killings and giving conditions to the Federal Government,” he said. “Who are their sponsors? Are they in government? These people must be arrested and prosecuted. If the state can’t protect Nigerians, the National Assembly should change the law and allow citizens to bear arms.”
Dalung also criticised the presidency for its slow reaction to the killings, saying the government was not giving the true picture of what is happening in the affected communities.
The demand for gun approval comes five months after Senator Ned Nwoko sponsored a bill to allow citizens to carry firearms. He said the bill was necessary because the police do not have enough resources or personnel to protect everyone.
Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju also supported the idea, saying Nigeria’s security forces are overstretched.
“In a country like Nigeria, with many tribes and cultures, it is clear the police cannot handle everything,” he said. “If we all had guns, who would dare attack places like Plateau or Benue?”
Omoyele Sowore, a former presidential candidate, said the security situation in Nigeria shows that the police have failed.
“Nigerians have lost confidence in the security agencies,” he said. “We can’t have this level of crime without help from people in government. The weapons used in these attacks are military-grade. They can destroy houses and even pierce metals. One day, it could be your own village or family.”
The Coalition of Nigerian Patriots said that allowing citizens to carry guns legally may be the only way to stop the killings if the government continues to fail in protecting lives.
