Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi has strongly opposed growing demands for civilian self-defense amid Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.
During a recent Channels Television interview, he warned that arming citizens would trigger nationwide anarchy rather than solutions.
His statement directly countered retired General Theophilus Danjuma’s controversial recommendation for self-protection.
The former defense minister had declared government security failures justified civilian arms use, particularly in violence-ridden Benue and Plateau states.
However, Governor Namadi emphasized collaborative security improvements over dangerous vigilante actions.
He cited Jigawa’s peaceful conditions as proof that dialogue works, where traditional mediation resolved decades-old herder-farmer conflicts without weapons.
Meanwhile, security analyst Bulama Bukarti supported Namadi’s stance, warning that civilian armament would escalate bloodshed.
He highlighted Nigeria’s existing 6.2 million illicit firearms as proof that more weapons endanger communities further.
The debate intensifies as Plateau and Benue states report horrific attacks, with over 150 deaths recently. Protesters marched with “Stop the Bloodshed” banners while governors described the violence as coordinated community takeovers.
President Tinubu has ordered security reinforcements, but critics like Atiku Abubakar demand more empathetic strategies. As police boost holiday patrols, the fundamental question remains: Can the state protect citizens without unleashing armed chaos?
Jigawa’s relative stability offers lessons – its conflict resolution panels and economic interventions reduced violence by 72% last year. Yet replicating this demands resources and political will currently lacking nationally.
With bandits now attacking military bases, the crisis reaches a tipping point. While citizens despair, experts warn that untrained civilian fighters would become targets, not protectors.
The government’s next moves are critical. Either security forces demonstrate decisive capability soon, or pressure for self-defense will become unstoppable – with unpredictable consequences.
International partners watch closely as Africa’s largest economy balances democratic freedoms with survival imperatives. Nigeria’s stability affects the entire region, making this crisis everyone’s concern.
For now, Governor Namadi’s warnings carry weight, but lasting solutions require more than words. Concrete actions must rebuild public trust in state protection capacities before alternatives take root.