Rep. Yusuf Gagdi (APC-Plateau) has called on the National Assembly to enact laws that will permit Nigerians to bear arms in order to defend themselves.
Gagdi, representing Pankshin, Kanke, and Kanam Federal Constituency of the state, made the call in an interview with journalists in Kanam.
The lawmaker said he had earlier visited some communities in Kanam and Wase local government areas recently attacked by gunmen.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that gunmen suspected to be bandits last Sunday stormed some communities in Kanam and Wase, where 106 persons died and many houses were burnt.
According to Gagdi, legalizing the bearing of arms bearing would go a long way toward addressing the spate of attacks and killings in communities.
He, however, said stiffer measures must be put in place to regulate the use of the arms by the citizens
”If we want to curtail the spate of attacks in communities, we should make laws that will permit citizens to carry arms. If for instance, those who attacked my people know that the locals also have arms, they won’t come, and even they do, the casualty will not be this high.”
“But there must be regulation on the use of the arms; anyone who misuses it should be imprisoned or even sentenced to death by hanging. But I tell you, if citizens are allowed to carry these arms to protect themselves, all these attacks and killings will end,” he said.
Gagdi called on security agencies to always work on intelligence reports at their disposals to avert incidences that could lead to a security breach.
He said that the attacks in his constituency could have been avoided if the security agencies acted on the intelligence report at their disposal
He, however, lauded the military for the prompt response and deployment of personnel to the affected communities.