Chief Ben Adaji, a senior member of the All Progressive Congress (APC), has asked the Inspector-General of Police to provide reasonable Nigerians the right to use arms in self-defense.
Last weekend, he made the claim when chatting with reporters in Jalingo.
“The situation where innocent Nigerians were daily living in perpetual fear of attack from bandits and kidnappers was worrisome.
The APC Chieftain, who is also a veteran Journalist and an expert on human security and counter-terrorism, observed that security should no longer be left in the hands of security personnel alone.
“The rising spate of kidnapping and banditry across the country should be a thing of concern to all Nigerians; other non-combatant measures are equally required to nip the menace in the bud.
“You will agree with me that because of the large population of Nigeria, it is not possible for security agencies to be in every home to provide security for Nigerians.
“Therefore, it has become imperative for certain categories of Nigerians to be licensed to bear arms for self protection”, he said.
Adaji, a two-time House of Representatives candidate for Kogi State’s Ankpa Federal Constituency, recommended the military to embrace the recent court order designating bandits as terrorists to deal forcefully with Boko Haram and the bandits.
“With the recent court declaration of bandits as terrorists, the military should assure proper deployment of the Tucano fighter aircraft bought from the US to eradicate bandits and Boko-Haram groups,” he said.
He also recommended the government to increase job opportunities and combat poverty, which he said was another factor that contributed to insecurity.
Adaji also encouraged the Federal Government to launch a serious disarmament drive to seize all sophisticated weapons that may be found in the wrong hands across the country.
He directed the newly established Centre for the Control of Light and Small Arms, which is housed in the Office of the National Security Adviser, to intensify its campaign against unlawful gun possession and carrying.
The security expert also pushed for the creation of special tribunals to expedite the trials of people in possession of illicit weapons, claiming that such steps will help Nigerians control the spread of armaments.
“I advise the new Centre to deploy intelligence to all land borders and ports of entry to detect the illegal movement of arms into the country. I want to also advise Nigerians to be conscious of their immediate environment as well as discountenance leaving total responsibility of their own individual and collective security to security agencies”, he added.