Cyril Mbah, Abuja
A concerned traditional ruler in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), HRH Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, the Etsu of Yagba in Abaji Area Council has appealed to the Federal Government to urgently lift the ban on private ownership of firearms.
Adamu reasoned that p to restricting permitting citizens to own firearms will enable helpless citizens to protect themselves y against the horde of bandits and kidnappers making life unbearable for people in many communities across the country.
The monarch reminded the government that the policy of restricting ownership of firearms has not achieved its original purpose and has even emboldened bandits and kidnappers to move freely without fear of arrest.
He stated that the number of security personnel in the country was far too small to cover the large expanse of land territory taken over by desperate armed groups.
The ruler stated that it will be difficult for security personnel to contain the rising numbers of bandits operating at random in remote communities without proper collaboration with law-abiding citizens.
Etsu Adamu told journalists at his palace during the celebration of the 10th anniversary of his installation last weekend that private ownership of firearms by licensed individuals will help reduce banditry and kidnappings to the barest minimum.
He declared that there are many honest Nigerians who can use any firearms responsibly assigned to them and help security agents win the war against unknown gunmen.
“We are at the mercy of bandits and kidnappers in this area every day. The policy which banned private ownership of firearms has not helped the nation at all and should be discarded.
“The policy has even emboldened bandits operating in the rural communities and they attack any time of the day or night. We appeal to the government to lift the ban on private ownership of firearms. We need prayers to survive every day. Just yesterday, three people were killed in the neighbouring community and many people were kidnapped.
“The FCT minister called traditional leaders recently for a security meeting and he showed us plans by bandits to attack Abuja after which he called for more vigilance.
“The government should allow citizens to carry firearms for self-protection and the problem of bandits and kidnapping will reduce. The security men are trying but they are not enough and if drastic measures are not taken on this matter, the security personnel may not be able to cope,” he declared.
Etsu Adam urged the people of Yagba to register as voters to enable them to exercise their franchise in the 2023 general elections even as he thanked them for supporting the traditional institution in the past ten years.
He promised to work harder in the coming years to promote peace, and harmony and attract development to the area adding, “We all know how this community was before I was installed as the Etsu and today, we have good roads, electricity and other facilities apart from peace because of the cooperation of the indigenous people and those who settled among us.”
