Insecurity and Worrisome Clamour for Self-defence

As prominent Nigerians are calling for self-defence in the face of rising insecurity, which signifies outright vote of no confidence on the government and the security agencies, many analysts feel it is a dangerous proposition that could push Nigeria over the cliff, Davidson Iriekpen writes

Former Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (rtd), again stirred the hornet’s nest recently when he called on Nigerians to defend themselves against the bandits and terrorists running amok across the country and leaving in their wake tears, sorrow and blood.

Speaking in his community, Takum, Taraba State during a get-together he organised for his members of staff working within the area against the backdrop of renewed and intensified killings in communities in the state and across the country, Danjuma said: “If government security cannot protect us, we must protect ourselves. Nigeria is on the brink.”

Danjuma, who is also a former Chief of Army Staff, called on Nigerians, particularly his people of Taraba, to defend themselves against killings, which he described as genocide. He noted that the circumstances that made him call for self-defence in the past had not abated but rather intensified.

“I once asked you to rise and defend yourselves. I am still repeating it today with more seriousness; rise and defend yourselves. The killers have obtained sophisticated arms; we don’t know where they got the arms. But you people should also seek to get it wherever they get the arms; you must defend yourselves against the killers.

“You should know that they are well-armed to kill you and take over your land. Be ready for them as they are also humans like you,” he explained.

The retired general added that unless the people are prepared to defend themselves against the killers, nobody is ready to save their lives.

In the past eight years, several lives have been lost to senseless banditry, terrorist attacks, raids and kidnapping for ransom.

Last month alone, bandits turned parts of Plateau, Benue, Kwara, Zamfara, Sokoto and Borno states into killing fields with over 300 killed. Nigerians wake up to hear fresh massacres almost daily. The situation in Taraba, Niger, Katsina, and Kaduna states is not any better.

General Danjuma has maintained his call for self-defence since 2018 when he openly warned Nigerians to defend themselves.

“The armed forces are not neutral,” he said at a forum in Jalingo, Taraba State capital.

 “They collude with armed bandits to kill Nigerians. You must rise and defend yourselves. Otherwise, you will all die,” he had said.

Again, in 2022 Danjuma reiterated, “We are under siege. Nigerians must not sit idly; self-defence is no longer an option but a necessity.”

His position has sparked debate with other prominent figures echoing similar sentiments. For instance, former Minister of Defence, General Bashir Magashi (rtd), once stated: “It is the responsibility of everybody to be alert and defend themselves. If you are armed, defend yourself.”

For the better part of his eight years as Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, who survived an assassination attempt in 2021, consistently called for citizens to bear arms legally for self-defence.

We can’t continue like this; our people must be empowered to defend themselves,” Ortom stressed.

The latest came from the incumbent Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, who, during a 2024 national security summit, remarked,

“Citizens must take ownership of their own security; government alone cannot guarantee protection,” he said.

But Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi is among the Nigerians who feel otherwise about the proposition, describing it as a dangerous path to follow. He warned that the move could further plunge the country into anarchy.

Namadi argued that rather than encourage armed self-defence, the government at all levels must continue to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.

Others have also argued that civilians cannot confront hardened criminals armed with sophisticated weapons like AK-47s, AK-49s, and RPGs.

Many can understand that the continuous calls for self-defence reflect the desperation of Nigerians who feel abandoned.

 For a former defence minister to publicly advocate citizens taking up arms shows how bad Nigeria’s security architecture has failed.

Political analysts and security experts have argued that when very important personalities with rich military and security backgrounds consistently call on citizens to arm themselves, it is a damning indictment of the government’s failure to protect its people.

However, they argued that rather than encouraging everyone to bear arms, the country must strengthen communal security frameworks where vigilante groups, community policing and neighbourhood watch initiatives that are properly regulated and supervised could provide immediate relief while larger systemic reforms are undertaken.

This situation should also serve as a wake-up call to President Bola Tinubu and his administration. If individuals who once held the levers of military and state security no longer believe in the system, then ordinary Nigerians have even more reason to feel worried.

While some have argued that self-defence is a fundamental right, especially when the state fails in its primary duty to protect the citizens, others feel it is a dangerous proposition that could push Nigeria over the cliff.

According to them, the country would descend into chaos if everybody is allowed to bear arms, in the name of self-defence. 

A typical example is the United States, where despite strict regulations, gun violence claims thousands of lives annually. Even individuals legally licensed to carry firearms often misuse them.

Therefore, encouraging citizens to arm themselves in Nigeria will inevitably lead to the uncontrolled proliferation of arms.

Observers believe that both the political class and security agencies already know what needs to be done to tackle insecurity but are playing politics with people’s lives instead of implementing the obvious solutions.

They argued that based on what the country is facing, state police are no longer a luxury but a necessity. According to them, the federal police structure has proven inadequate for a country as large and diverse as Nigeria.

Those who spoke with THISDAY called on governments at all levels to address the root causes of insecurity – poverty, unemployment, and lack of opportunities, adding that when young men cannot feed themselves legitimately, carrying arms becomes attractive. What this means in a nutshell is that economic solutions must complement military operations.

Equally important is the demand for accountability from the state governors. As the chief security officers of their respective states, they must be held responsible for any breakdown of law and order. Hiding behind the excuse of centralised policing is no longer acceptable.

Finally, Nigeria needs to stop treating these criminals with kid gloves. When bandits are caught, they should face swift justice, not endless trials. State attorneys-general also need to be alive to their responsibilities.