Insecurity: Nigerians Have Right To Defend Themselves — Presidency
Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has said the Federal Government is determined to end killings in Nigeria while stressing that citizens have the constitutional right to defend themselves against attackers in their homes.
Bwala made the remarks during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday while reacting to recent killings in Esiele community in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
He said, “Solution is what we all look to, evil men operate anywhere in the world, no matter how tight you are as a government.
“You do your best and expect that with the help of God and collective participation of the people through collective intelligence we will be able to put an end to it.
“I know the Nigerian people will continue to complain.
“So because if for example, no matter how we say that we are sorry and the incident happened again people will complain, cry and mourn because it’s the life of the Nigerian people that are taken away by the evil element.
“We will put an end to this as a people.
“Every eve of elections in Nigeria from 2014, 2018, 2022, and now 2026 you will see that crisis increases because of the idea of a crisis economy.
“A lot of people take advantage of that but the will and spirit of the collective people is what will put an end to this situation.
“The constitution has guarantee to every citizen of Nigeria the right to self defence, you have the right to defend yourself.
“When your right, my right, and that of my neighbour is put together, it becomes collective right to defend ourselves and Nigerians have the right to defend themselves.
“If you come to my house to try to kill me, any lethal weapon I use to defend myself is guaranteed by the constitution.
“Number two as a people we have vigilante and in Borno State we have paramilitary organizations that provide intelligence to law enforcement.
“Nigerians don’t have the right to bear certain arms unless those arms are permitted but the collective people can come together to apply to the government for the right to coordinate themselves.”
The comments come amid growing concerns over insecurity following reports of an attack on LA Primary School in Oyo State, where gunmen allegedly invaded the facility and abducted teachers and pupils.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
