The Call For Self-Defence: A Dangerous Proposition

Lately, former Minister of Defence, Lt-Gen Theophilus Yakubu (TY) Danjuma (rtd), as soon as once more hammered on the necessity for the residents to defend themselves towards marauding bandits and terrorists. His assertion, made throughout a employees get-together in Taraba State, has reignited the controversy on self-defence in a rustic drowning in insecurity.

“The warning I gave some years in the past continues to be as legitimate right this moment because it was then. Nigerians should rise and defend themselves,” the elder statesman declared, insisting that the residents can’t proceed sitting idly by whereas felony gangs bloodbath individuals unchecked.

To make certain, this isn’t the primary time Danjuma has made such a controversial assertion. In 2018, he shocked the nation when he accused the army of colluding with killers and urged Nigerians to defend themselves or danger extinction. His newest remarks are equally explosive, particularly coming from a former defence minister who as soon as commanded our armed forces.

However let’s name a spade a spade – is arming the residents actually the answer to our safety woes? I don’t suppose so.

The decision for self-defence, whereas comprehensible given the horrific killings we witness each day, is virtually a name for anarchy. Simply think about your neighbour pulling out a gun throughout your subsequent argument over parking house or loud music. The nation would descend into chaos sooner than politicians abandoning marketing campaign guarantees after elections.

Belief me, I perceive the frustration behind such calls. Within the final month alone, bandits have turned components of Plateau, Benue, Kwara, and Zamfara States into killing fields. Virtually each day, we get up to information of contemporary massacres. The state of affairs in Taraba, Niger, Katsina, and Kaduna States isn’t any higher. You start to surprise if these terrorists are on a mission to wipe out total communities whereas our safety forces seem overwhelmed.

However let’s be lifelike – how precisely are civilians imagined to confront hardened criminals armed with subtle weapons? Image a situation: farmers with dane weapons going through bandits wielding AK-47s, AK-49s, and RPGs. That’s not self-defence; that’s suicide.

Haven’t we already seen vigilante teams decimated by bandits as a result of they lacked firepower parity? What number of occasions have we learn stories of native safety outfits being outgunned and outmanoeuvered by these criminals?

Come to think about it, if our skilled army personnel typically wrestle towards these terrorists, what probability do unusual residents stand? The decision for self-defence would possibly sound heroic, however in observe, it’s a recipe for extra bloodshed, not much less.

The reality is, we already know what must be performed to sort out insecurity in Nigeria. We’re simply taking part in politics with individuals’s lives as a substitute of implementing the apparent options.

First, state police is not a luxurious however a necessity. The federal police construction has confirmed insufficient for a rustic as massive and numerous as Nigeria. Native police forces would have higher intelligence, understanding of terrain, and faster response occasions. But we preserve dancing round this situation prefer it’s a taboo subject.

Second, we desperately want extra boots on the bottom. Our safety companies are severely understaffed for a rustic of over 200 million individuals. When you might have one police officer protecting a number of villages, what do you anticipate?

Third, expertise should be deployed aggressively in our struggle towards insecurity. Drones, CCTV techniques, superior communication networks, and intelligence gathering instruments needs to be customary, not exceptions. In 2025, we’re nonetheless combating twenty first Century terrorism with twentieth Century strategies.

Fourth, we should tackle the basis causes of insecurity – poverty, unemployment, and lack of alternatives. When younger males can’t feed themselves legitimately, carrying arms turns into engaging. Financial options should complement army operations.

I additionally consider we have to cease treating these criminals with child gloves. When bandits are caught, they need to face swift justice, not countless trials or, worse, amnesty programmes which have repeatedly failed.

Moreover, our intelligence companies want an entire overhaul. Too typically, communities know who the criminals are, however this intelligence doesn’t translate into preventive motion by safety forces. What’s the usage of intelligence if it might probably’t stop assaults?

Some have argued that self-defence is a elementary proper, particularly when the state fails in its major obligation to guard the residents. Legitimate level.

However the penalties of arming untrained civilians may very well be catastrophic. Can we wish to turn out to be one other Somalia or Libya the place everybody has a gun?

Let’s not child ourselves – the killers terrorising our communities will not be extra highly effective than our safety companies. What’s missing is the political will, correct coordination, enough sources, {and professional} management of safety operations.

The continual requires self-defence replicate the desperation of Nigerians who really feel deserted by the state. It exhibits how badly our safety structure has failed when a former defence minister publicly advocates residents taking on arms.

Fairly than encouraging individuals to arm themselves – which may doubtlessly result in ethnic militias, revenge killings, and full breakdown of regulation and order – our leaders ought to give attention to fixing the systemic issues in our safety setup.

We are able to’t struggle fireplace with fireplace and anticipate to not get burned. Self-defence would possibly appear to be the one choice left, however it’s a harmful proposition that might push Nigeria over the cliff.

As a substitute, let’s demand accountability from these we elected to guard us. Let’s insist on complete safety sector reforms. Let’s push for state police. Let’s spend money on expertise and intelligence. These are the actual options, not turning each citizen right into a reluctant warrior.