Amid escalating insecurity across parts of Nigeria, former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, alongside political activist Omoyele Sowore and members of the Coalition of Nigerian Patriots, has called on the Federal Government to allow citizens to legally own firearms for self-defense.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, the group stressed that allowing responsible Nigerians to bear arms would help curb the wave of killings and violent attacks plaguing states such as Benue, Plateau, Kwara, and others.
The call comes months after Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North, introduced a bill in the National Assembly seeking to legalize civilian access to firearms.
He argued that due to the limited resources and manpower of the Nigerian Police, citizens must be empowered to defend themselves.
Dalung decried the ongoing violence in the North-Central and parts of the North-West, lamenting the destruction of lives and property.
He referenced a circulating video in which a group claiming to be a Fulani coalition allegedly admitted responsibility for some of the attacks and issued demands to the federal government.
He said, “Those behind these atrocities must be swiftly apprehended and prosecuted. Their bold confessions only deepen public fear and promote lawlessness. If the state cannot secure lives, the constitution should be amended to permit citizens to bear arms.”
Dalung also criticized the Presidency for what he described as a sluggish and misleading response to the massacres in affected communities.
Human rights advocate Deji Adeyanju also lent his voice to the call, arguing that in a country as diverse and overstretched as Nigeria, the current security apparatus is insufficient to guarantee safety for all.
“If we truly acknowledge the failure of our security agencies, we must act. Let people have access to firearms to defend themselves. With armed communities, would-be attackers will think twice,” he said.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate, echoed similar sentiments, saying that many Nigerians no longer trust the police to protect them. He described the country’s growing security breakdown as a direct result of incompetence within the security leadership.
“We are witnessing a complete breakdown of law and order,” he said. “The level of weapons being used in these attacks suggests strong backing. They are not just ordinary guns; these are high-powered arms that can tear through buildings. It’s time Nigerians realized the gravity—no one is immune.”
The coalition warned that unless proactive steps are taken, the cycle of violence may eventually reach every household.
