The Emir of Argungu, Muhammad Mera, has advised residents in his emirate to lawfully acquire weapons for the protection of their communities amid recurring attacks by bandits.
The traditional ruler also encouraged residents to stay alert and take preventive measures against terrorists and other criminal elements operating within the area.
According to Dailytrust, he made the statement during a meeting with district, village and ward heads held at his palace in Argungu.
The traditional ruler urged communities to explore collective efforts to raise funds for the purchase of legally approved weapons to strengthen local self-defence.
“If you acquire such weapons legally, make sure the bandits are aware that your community possesses the means to defend itself. This alone can serve as a deterrent and discourage attacks,” he said.
Mera maintained that Islam does not support helplessness in the face of violence and criminality.
“It is not right for a Muslim to remain passive while criminals kill people, kidnap innocent citizens, and rape our women. Be prepared to defend yourselves, your families, and your communities against any attack,” the Emir stated.
The monarch expressed concern over the vulnerability of many rural communities, attributing it to a lack of capacity for self-defence.
He said: “When bandits attack, people start running, including village heads. This is happening because communities do not have adequate means of self-defence.”
The emir, however, clarified that his call was not an endorsement of vigilantism or unlawful actions. He said lawful self-defence had become necessary given the scale of the security challenges confronting affected communities, adding that security agencies alone could not shoulder the burden.
He described the continued loss of lives in attacks without resistance as troubling, while cautioning residents against ethnic violence and extrajudicial killings.
Mera stressed that he would not support anyone who uses weapons to target other ethnic groups or engage in unlawful acts.
He further noted that many attacks were retaliatory in nature and appealed to residents not to embark on revenge missions against innocent people, warning that unlawful killings often trigger fresh cycles of violence.
The emir also alleged that although many members of the Lakurawa group had departed the area, armed bandits linked to them remained active and continued to terrorise local communities through existing networks.
He urged residents across the Argungu Emirate to remain vigilant, cooperate closely with security agencies and conduct their affairs with the fear of God.
