NewStats: 3,264,402 , 8,183,607 topics. Date: Tuesday, 10 June 2025 at 10:12 PM 173u68

BREAKING: IT IS TIME TO LEGALIZE AND DEMOCRATIZE GUN OWNERSHIP IN NIGERIA, SAYS NIGERIAN ACTIVIST

Nigerian rights activist and author Raphael Adebayo has called on authorities to legalize and democratize access and opportunity to own and use firearms and ammunition in Nigeria. Adebayo explained that the legalization of firearms and ammunition can no longer be avoided due to the insecurity crisis in most parts of the country that has turned ordinary Nigerians into sitting ducks.

In a 15-point statement released on Saturday, January 20, 2024, the activist stated that Nigerians are under a ‘violent siege by Islamist terrorists, Fulani herders, and violent criminals.’ Adebayo declared that ‘the last ten years have exposed the disgraceful ineptitude of the Nigerian security apparatus to protect Nigerians,’ adding that the Tinubu istration has ‘publicly confessed to the people’s suspicion that the Nigerian state has relinquished its authority and constitutional mandate to diligently protect the country’s forests and the people living within and around heavily forested areas.’

Adebayo explained that the police to population ratio in Nigeria is ‘grossly insufficient’ and lamented the fact that ‘there are more illegal guns than there are actual human beings in the most populous country of Black people on earth.’ According to the activist, this dreadful situation means that ‘most ordinary Nigerians are practically sitting ducks for Islamist terrorists, Fulani herders, and violent criminals.’

Recounting the security crisis across Nigeria, the activist explained that it is highly unfortunate that kidnappers are controlling major highways and terrorists have taken over numerous villages and communities in the country, demanding ‘terror levies’ from residents and killing those who fail to meet the demand. He added that ‘Nobody is safe: Christians, Muslims, farmers, ethnic minorities, youth, men, women, and most unfortunately, children.’

However, Adebayo believes all hope is not lost. According to the activist, it is time for the Nigerian government to ‘declare a State of Emergency on Insecurity in Nigeria and legalize gun ownership for all persons above 18 years old who are mentally fit to protect themselves, their properties, and their families.’ He added that this is in line with Section 33 (2) (a) of the 1999 constitution as amended, concluding that ‘Since the Nigerian state can no longer protect the people, it is time for the people to protect themselves.’

Read full statement below:

PRESS RELEASE

Nigerians Under Siege: Time To Legalize and Democratize Gun Ownership in Nigeria

Adebayo Raphael

The Nigerian State has failed in its primary responsibility to ensure the security and welfare of the Nigerian people as mandated in section 14 (2) (b) of the Nigerian constitution as amended. More than any other time since the beginning of the Fourth Republic, the last ten years have exposed the disgraceful ineptitude of the Nigerian security apparatus to protect Nigerians all over the country.

2. Rather than protect Nigerians to the utmost degree, the Nigerian State in the last ten years and its political class have validated the prevailing suspicion that the Nigerian people have become mere sitting ducks for the government, terrorists, and violent criminals all over the country.

3. This suspicion was recently validated when the Nigerian Army, under the commandership of the Chief of Army Staff, Taoreed Lagbaja, recklessly killed more than 120 innocent civilians in a peaceful religious gathering in Tudun Biri, Kaduna State. Neither the Chief of Army Staff nor anyone else in the current government of renewed hopelessness has been penalized for the two coordinated airstrikes that reduced humans and people’s homes to ashes.

4. The Nigerian Air Force, during the disastrous regime of General Buhari, killed hundreds of civilians in a similar fashion without the state taking responsibility.

5. In the first quarter of 2023 alone, nearly 2,000 innocent civilians were brutally killed by Islamist terrorists in 34 of the 36 states of Nigeria. The rest of the year followed the same pattern, with a staggering surge in kidnapping activities. Among those murdered were farmers working hard to feed their families and the entire country, as well as autochthons in numerous communities across the country, particularly in the middle belt.

6. Between the inauguration of the incumbent President of Nigeria Bola Tinubu in May 2023 and December 2023, over 5000 Nigerians were viciously slaughtered by Fulani herders and Islamist terrorists across the country. These terrorists have become so bold that they now invade and overrun tens of sleepy villages and communities simultaneously, commit atrocities including the rape of young and elderly women and men, kidnap for ransom or forcible conversion, and leave in their wake a bloody trail of human carnage.

7. On Christmas Eve of 2023, over 150 Christians were savagely slaughtered in Plateau State while thousands were displaced from their homes and ancestral land without any immediate assistance from the security apparatus of the Nigerian state.

8. Likewise, we are barely halfway through the first month of 2024 and Islamist terrorists are already slaughtering Christians and other residents for failing to pay “terror levies” in villages gripped by the reign of terror of these vicious Islamists in the middle belt.

9. Similarly, kidnappers have taken over major highways and cities, including the Federal Capital Territory, ransoming and killing citizens with reckless abandon and forcing the rest of the country to crowdfund for the release of the abducted. Nobody is safe: Christians, Muslims, farmers, ethnic minorities, youth, men, women, and most unfortunately, children.

10. The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas, has spoken on behalf of President Tinubu’s government and publicly confessed to the people’s suspicion that the Nigerian state has relinquished its authority and constitutional mandate to diligently protect the country’s forests and the people living within and around heavily forested areas. By this ission, the Nigerian state is obviously confused and unable to safeguard the lives and properties of ordinary Nigerians.

11. The police-to-population ratio in Nigeria is grossly insufficient at less than 150 police officers for every 100,000 Nigerians, despite the creation of the Special Intervention Squad by the Acting Inspector General of Police in mid-2023.

12. It is, therefore, time to declare a State of Emergency on Insecurity in Nigeria and legalize gun ownership for all persons above 18 years old who are mentally fit to protect themselves, their properties, and their families. Section 33 (2) (a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended s the right of Nigerians to defend themselves and their properties.

13. According to statistics from the United Nations, Nigeria is presently home to 70% of over 500 million illegal small arms and light weapons in all of West Africa. In other words, there are more illegal guns than there are actual human beings in the most populous country of Black people on earth, which effectively means that most ordinary Nigerians are practically sitting ducks for Islamist terrorists, Fulani herders, and violent criminals of all kinds in Nigeria.

14. Apart from terrorists and violent criminals, a significant number of these illegal guns are owned and used by celebrities, public servants, and politicians in Nigeria. [/b]The immediate ex-chief of Central Bank Godwin Emefiele, for instance, was recently arrested and charged with illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, an offence that currently attracts a minimum sentence of ten years imprisonment.

15. [b]The right to self-defence and protection of property and family must cease to be the preserve of the rich, powerful, and connected in Nigeria. It is time for Nigeria to democratize access to the legal purchase, ownership, and use of firearms and ammunition. Only equal access and opportunity to legally purchase, own, and use firearms and ammunition can save ordinary Nigerians from this violent siege by Islamist terrorists, Fulani herders, and violent criminals. Since the Nigerian state can no longer protect the people, it is time for the people to protect themselves.

It always seems greener on the other side until you get there.

Biko, government should legalize gun let me buy one to protect myself from rapist and kidnappers

Nigeria already has a relatively high rate of gun violence, fueled by factors like armed robbery, cult clashes, insurgency, etc.

While self defense is important, legalizing guns could potentially increase the pool of firearms available to criminal elements and individuals with malicious intent.

Oil soup man is now crying

Abi

Nor try am abeg I use God beg Una. This one don mad.

it is time for the Nigerian government to ‘declare a State of Emergency on Insecurity in Nigeria

The right to self-defence and protection of property and family must cease to be the preserve of the rich, powerful, and connected in Nigeria.

Fulanis no go like am, how else can they kill off christians?

Most Nigerians are not mentally fit enough to be entrusted with guns....


The possible horrors of legitimising gun ownership in Nigeria far outweigh the advantages...

Small quarrel wey suppose end with mere shout or even small fight, Nigerian man fit come out guns blazing if he has access to one.. Nigerian man sees another man toasting his babe, e go use gunfire express his displeasure.... In fact, the possibilities are infinitely scary...


The security agencies should step up, or allow each state police its own territory... I have always said that the indigenes of an area are the best to police such area, because they know its nooks and crannies, and even know most of the criminals among their own people...

A good example is the South East and South South... Whatever might be said of their Unknown Gunmen and Miltants in those areas, I don't think any outsider will have the guts to enter say Imo State or the Niger Delta creeks to kidnap anyone...As herdsmen craze reach, I am yet to hear a single case of them misbehaving in that Imo or in the Niger Delta Creeks where militants and fully armed cultists dey on ground to shoot anytin that moves anyhow.. UGM and Militants that are already looking for criminal outsiders to use for target practice


In summary, it's high time security in this country is decentralised down to the grassroots..That's the only way out of the present quagmire

Please don't!!!
Telegram was democratized and what did we get out of it?

Girls advertising paid video sex calls and selling nudës plus miscreants flagrantly adding one to Fx groups where 1dollar exchanges for 700naira or betting groups where odds destined to make one a billionaire are distributed for a fee.

We do not need guns because Nigerians will forget why it was legalized and use it for other things; if Bilikisu does not use the Beretta as a diIdo on Snapchat, Baba Tiamiyu will use the Norinco's butt for Kamarudeen's head each time he bedwets.

Let guns only be for security operatives and Fulani herdsmen please.

Ok

Legalize it in Nigeria as a matter of urgency.
They would be collateral damage we know but those who would survive would respect themselves.
Why allow some tribes ammunition and forbid others ?

Am about to shot somebody

Have they ever factored what will happen if the guns land on the wrong hands? The mass shootings in the USA will be a child's play if the average Nigerian is permitted to have a gun

Legalised it for the papers and noisy social media youths who can't afford or are scared to have one.

A lot of people already own guns...

As a nation we are not yet ripe for Gun legalization, the accrued disadvantage will be disastrous innit. if no be say Govt dey use us dey play ping pong, use tribalism dey scatter, my KALA no go dey off

post=128044774:
it is time for the Nigerian government to ‘declare a State of Emergency on Insecurity in Nigeria

Tinubu lack the balls to do that. You don't expect him to displeased and fight his brothers in the north.

The Yorubas and Fulanis are one - Tinubu

This will be the greatest mistake we make as a country . It will get out of control.

It will be more bloody than this. Where will the poor man be able to afford a standard gun? The government should uped their game of protection of the country. Legalize ke?

The day una legalize gun, i dey japa from this country which normal person will make such a suggestion, why not talk about strengthening the military.

It will be misused in Nigeria. Any slight anger you will hear paapapapa!

There are times I feel like if I have a gun I would have killed some dudes that make me angry.

immortalcrown:
It always seems greener on the other side until you get there.

leave the useless stupid activist alone to be capping bonuses.. America gun crimes hasn't thought them any lesson yet.

If this eventually happens,then the killings in the US will be child's play,compared with what will be happening here.

So many crazy and fraustrated people plenty here,any small thing... Powww powww powww!

Nah! I dont that.

The north wont agree oh!

The only thing they have is violence, how else can their will be done?

This is not America

me to track your lost or stolen devices at an affordable fee

is in my signature

If people are freely carrying guns in Nigeria, I'm afraid the current level of security will seem like paradise compare to what will be happening.