The Majority Leader of the House of Reps, Hon. Ado Doguwa (APC-Kano) said on Thursday, that it was time Nigerians were allowed to bear arms to defend themselves.
“With all sense of responsibility, I think Nigerians at this moment should be allowed to bear arms.
“Nigerians must be allowed to take arms in defence of their innocent souls; to defend their hard-earned resources and property.
“Nigeria should not fail. Let Nigerians organise themselves in the form of civil defence; and defend their innocent souls,’’ he said.
Doguwa was contributing to a motion moved by Rep. Shehu Balarabe (APC-Kaduna) in Reps plenary. This was on the need to curtail increasing banditry in Brinin Giwa Federal Constituency in Kaduna State.
“When killing and kidnapping continue like this on daily basis; those of us who are representatives of government become speechless in the discharge of our duties to defend the actions of government.
“This is a report from one local government out of the 774 local governments in the country.
“The case of Giwa is not just what happened last week; it has been engulfed in crisis, banditry; and killings in the past three years.
“Giwa is in Kaduna State where security agencies are most represented in the north. Why should these things continue to happen?
“Government and officials of government have to rise to their responsibilities and call a spade, a spade; if it is funding, we all know we do not have any challenge funding the security agencies,’’ he said.
Furthermore, Rep. Dachung Bagos (PDP-Plateau) said that the House of Reps should suspend further releases of funds to security agencies.
According to him, the security agencies also have to account for the monies they have already collected over the years.
The House also urged the Inspector-General of Police to deploy police special teams to Giwa; as well as Birnin Local Government Areas of Kaduna State to intensify operations against bandits.
It called on the Chief of Army Staff as well as the Chief of Air Staff to intensify operations to restore law and order.
They also urged the Federal Government to implement the resolutions of the security summit convened by the House in 2021.
In his ruling, the Deputy Speaker of the Reps, Rep. Ahmed Wase urged all members to improve on their oversight functions; and likewise ensure that all agencies of government met the expectations of Nigerians.
