Mr President, Please Arm Your People

By Okey Ikechukwu

For the record, the incidents of mass killings, attacks on military installations and kidnapping stand at its peak today. It is everywhere. No one is safe anymore. Kinetic and non-kinetic engagements are not abating, but so are cases of everything that shouts insecurity from the roof tops. The military is doing the much it can, but our soldiers are overstretched, under-equipped and not helped by the near-absence  of effective civilian leadership presence, social infrastructure and viable local economic activities where they are needed.

Today’s topic first appeared on this page on January 24, 2024. The reasons for the article of that day, two years ago, was the same as that of today, namely, to urge Mr President to reconsider the official government position on civilian possession of light weapons for self defence. I intend to reproduce substantial sections of the aforementioned article, while contextualizing parts of it as we go on.

It began thus: “Our people say that a father who allows his son to enter the village square for a wrestling contest and then enforces a family rule of not grappling with anyone in public has guaranteed the defeat of his son even before the latter’s opponent is known. That appears to be the position of the average Nigerian today. Thus, except the Federal Government urgently reviews the existing policy on arms possession in Nigeria, the nation’s growing reputation as a mass killing field will become its marker, and identity trademark”.

Referring to the sudden emergence of a private armed group, complete with uniforms and state recognition, the write-up observed: “A few days ago, Miyetti Allah set up a Nomadic Vigilante Group in Nasarawa State, which is within spitting distance of the Presidential Villa, in order to help improve national security. If reason and common sense are not being stood on their heads here, why should Miyetti Allah’s expression of “shared commitment to economic prosperity, job creation, and the fight against banditry and cattle rustling” not start in Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Borno and Bauchi states? The aforementioned states have the highest negative security indices, extremely high poverty ratings and every other thing that diminishes life in Nigeria today. 

If, as stated by the initiators of the vigilante programme, part of the reasons for setting up the group is to “help flush out the bad elements among them in the state”, the question WHY NASARAWA STATE? Still remains”.

Then this: “The fact that kidnapping and banditry are going on unabetted and even increasing all over the country, plus the additional fact that the Federal Capital, which is the seat of power and the residence of the Commander-in-Chief of our Armed Forces, is now  favorite hunting ground for freelance bandits, sundry criminals and kidnappers, makes it mandatory for President Tinubu to ask himself why adult Nigerians of both gender, whose character and means of livelihood can be vouched for, should not carry arms and  ammunition for self-protection.

It is incomprehensible to basic common sense, logic and any decent interpretation of holistic national security that Nigerians who are not in military, police or security-related jobs are forbidden from owning, or possessing, a short gun; or any such weapon. It was not always so. The ban came at a point, due to the exigencies of a specific historical hour. That historical hour, which is far behind us now, led to new rules that limited any interested persons to the possession of either a single or double barrel, cartridge powered, long snout rifle. This species of guns has limited firepower and cumbersome loading protocols, which leave its possessor at a clear disadvantage in the face of any real danger that requires prompt response.

Before this development, the Mossberg Shotgun, including the short barrel option, were available under government license. So was the .22 Gevam Sporting rifle, a lovely French product, my favourite, with its twelve round slim magazine.

Is it not strange that there are citizens – sometimes of questionable origins – who freely and openly wield banned military assault rifles within the same country where such hardware is banned? They flaunt it everywhere, ostensibly to protect their cattle from cattle thieves. So, should all other trades groups also arm themselves against whatever dangers threaten their members and their goods? Would that be the way to go and still remain a viable 21^st century nation?

In the same country that banned military assault rifles are impudently wielded by teenagers in defence of the cattle they are rearing for some members of the elite, a pastor who was caught on social media brandishing the same military assault rifle is on trial for illegal arms possession. One of the charges against the former Central bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, was illegal possession of arms. But little boys are walking freely all over the Federal Republic of Nigeria with the same military hardware unchallenged by the national security machinery”.

The forgoing observations are as valid today as they were two years ago.

Going further, the article referred to an even earlier comment on the same subject matter of five years ago, saying: “As was said on this page on July 17, 2019, the strength of the criminals all over the country today, some of them Fulani from outside Nigeria, actually comes from the fact that they are unchallenged for now. When the government of Ghana took concrete and firm steps to contain their excesses it became obvious that they had no capacity to do anything. But that is because the Ghanaian State took its own survival seriously. The Fulanis, and Myetti Allah, did nothing when Sule Lamido, as governor of Jigawa State, forbade open wandering of cattle in his state. They also did nothing when Lamido authorized every citizen of Jigawa State to kill and barbecue any cattle found roaming in the city. No one heard their whimper about this “Lamido’s free gift to the people of Jigawa State,” as it was then called. And Lamido is Fulani, and of the right breed if you like”.

Going back to the impropriety of a trade union for herders forming its own security outfit, the article continued: “It should not be in the midst of the current bedlam in national security that Miyetti Allah, which has not been particularly helpful in building bridges, should launch a vigilante outfit. Recall that the same group created an uproar when, a few years ago, it tried to make pretensions about providing the same service in Imo State.

It referred to what Abdullahi Bello Bodejo, the national president of the association, said in his inaugural address: that the nomadic vigilante group was set up “to help secure the livelihoods of farmers and herders, and aid sharing of information and intelligence with security agencies”. This is in addition to such voluntary activities as first aid, community security, and relief services to affected communities as well as help in communal development efforts”.

Our questions, then and now, remain: “To be funded by whom, and from what resources? And in place where you have a sitting modern government?

Alhassan Sule, the national secretary of the organization told Nigerians, during the flag off, that the vigilante personnel “will undergo rigorous training from renowned security organisations before commencement of operations”. So, the launch was not the commencement of operations? What are the renowned security organizations being mentioned here? Who approved and funded everything connected with this vigilante group? Can any other association do the same, “in support of national security”? Are the personnel now on full time job, for which they are paid regular salaries? What is their background, and what will you do with them in the next one, two, five, or ten years? Who assessed them, and on what basis were they recruited? Etc. Etc”.  

And the Nasarawa State Police Commissioner, Usman Nadada, was there. He advised the group to abide by “rules of engagement in carrying out their duties”, and urged the general public to cooperate with the vigilantes in the fight against kidnapping and banditry in the state. Nasada’s statement, that the group is not allowed to bear arms, “except the ones provided by the police, in the discharge of its duties” rests on some questionable assumptions.

The first is that the police can, and should, arm the group.  The second is that an undermanned, underarmed and under-equipped Nigeria Police can oversee this group. The third, and final, questionable assumption is that the police can control this group once it becomes operational. Will the farmers in Nasarawa State and environs not see this as a signal for a final ditch contest for living space?

The corollary to the above is that there is no reason why any other association should not, following this precedent, set up is own vigilante group, “to help secure the livelihoods of farmers and herders, and aid sharing of information and intelligence with security agencies”.

Part of the concern here, today, is that the North does not seem to be paying enough attention to what is happening to it, especially on account of its refusal to count the toll of insurgency, banditry, ruined lives and progressive degradation of a sense of community?

Please recall that an article appeared on this page, also some three years ago, under the title ‘Northern Nigeria: The Pretence persists’, wherein it was said: “A recent lengthy submission from the elder statesman, Ahmed Joda, rested on a telling conclusion: Northern Nigeria is not developing its human capital. It also does not have the time to do so anymore. Therefore, it is now ill-equipped to fit into either the knowledge-driven world of today or the new world of tomorrow. It needs at least 20 years to become significant in any way. But rather than wake up to this benumbing fact, there is the pursuit of the illusion of dominance.

Meanwhile the people of the region lack the skills for tomorrow, as majority of its youth lack everything that could make them part of a 21st century world. The major point in Joda’s intervention is that the triumphalism of cattle rearers, whose illusion of invulnerability is fuelled and sustained by a national security framework that is skewed to promote insecurity in specific regions of the country, will go burst sooner than later. Confiscation of the headship of institutions of state is not the same thing as creating a “replacement generation” that could be part of a 21st Century world.

Drugs, poverty and rapacious daredevilry have chased northern big men to Abuja. But is Abuja itself still safe? Are some high-profile estates and exclusive neighbourhoods in Abuja not being quietly attacked these days”

The last submission from the aforementioned piece came thus:  “As local economies collapse, as re-desertification takes over many places, as farmlands and animal husbandry are abandoned, as the proceeds of crime become the new means of livelihood for the unlettered, the threats to the children of the elite will multiply. The peace of mind of those who had the chance to make a difference but failed to do so will evaporate. The free-band society of cattle herders will collapse before their very eyes, as much of the North is taken over by “degenerate marauders who know nothing about modern statehood, law and order etc.”

Thus, let us re-echo a call once made here before: Mr President reconsider gun licencing guidelines and protocols and arm your people. Lest we all perish!