Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), a foremost human rights lawyer and activist has reacted to calls by the Katsina state governor, Aminu Masari on citizens to procure guns and defend themselves.
The lawyer implored the government at all levels to take serious steps to address the rising insecurity in the country and reminded that the protection of lives and property was the responsibility of the government.
This was contained in a statement released on Tuesday in Abuja by the Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
Adegboruwa maintained that the Katsina governor’s call on citizen’s on self-defense was a confession of helplessness on the side of the government.
He noted that it was an unfortunate situation against citizens in bandits ravaged states.
Adegboruwa urged those advocating for self-defense to procure arms and distribute them to citizens to show how serious they were.
Adegboruwa said: “If such an influential leader like Masari should confess to helplessness in begging the people to buy guns to defend themselves, then the government has failed.”
Masari had said “It is Islamically allowed for one to defend himself against attack.
“One must rise to defend himself, his family and assets. If you die while trying to defend yourself, you’ll be considered a martyr. It’s surprising how a bandit would own a gun while a good man trying to defend himself and his family has none.
He promised to support those with the idea of self defence, saying that citizens needed to complement government efforts.
He reasoned that there was the likelihood of conspiracy among some government officials to profit from insecurity particularly from security votes
The lawyer called on the government to be decisive and brutal in tackling insecurity by arresting and prosecuting anyone found culpable in insecurity.
“Given all that we now know from Dasukigate, it is actually possible for leaders in power to collude with terrorists, bandits, unknown gunmen, pipeline vandals, kidnappers and armed robbers, to fuel insecurity to loot the common purse. That is the way it would seem to us, if this particular government cannot rein in this monster.
“Unfortunately, the situation seems to be slipping out of the hands of the government, given the scenario of greed, corruption, collusion and religious affiliations that have been unveiled to us by those who should know.
The lawyer said, ”Nigerians didn’t elect bandits and terrorists, saying that responsible people canvassed for votes and were voted, hence, they should rise to the occasion of protecting the voters.
He further advocated for the creation of State Police as the first step towards tackling insecurity in the country.
Adegboruwa also charged the National Assembly to work for the interest of the people to improve security by amending the constitution to favour restructuring.
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