In what appears like proferring a desperate solution to a desperate problem, the Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, left many astonished last week with his advice to citizens resident in areas prone to bandits attacks in the state to acquire weapons and defend themselves.
Governor Masari made his suggestion during a visit to Jibia town to commiserate with the families of 10 people recently crushed dead through reckless driving by some operatives of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).
The governor had contended that it was morally wrong for the citizens to give in to the bandits without any attempt to defend themselves.
Katsina is one of the states in the North-west of Nigeria bedevilled by banditry. Since 2011, the state has recorded series of attacks by armed bandits, leaving more than 6,000 dead and hundreds of thousands displaced from their homes. Not only are the defenceless citizens at the mercy of the bandits in Katsina State, security forces and government agencies whose operatives bear arms are also at risk.
For instance, in July 2020, no fewer than 23 soldiers were killed when the bandits opened fire on them in an ambush, as they walked through a forested part of the Jibia district.
Similarly, on July 7, this year, two personnel of the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, were killed at the Kadode checkpoint along Jibia Road. The NIS personnel were attacked at their duty post, Kadode checkpoint, which reportedly posed an obstacle to the bandits’ quest to invade Kadode Village to rustle the villagers’ cattle. If the soldiers and other security operatives trained to bear arms are routinely massacred by bandits, how will the civilians fare?
The various government efforts, including the declaration of an outright military action, have yet to put the bandits out of action and restore peace to the affected states.
Governor Masari had further argued that security was not the exclusive responsibility of the government.
He was quoted to have said, “It is the people’s meek submission that emboldens the bandits to continue with their heinous activities with murderous frequency. Arm yourselves and deal with them.
“People must divorce their minds from the mistaken notion that security is government’s sole responsibility alone.”
On the surface level, the Katsina governor’s prescription may appear good in solving the intractable security problem. But looked at differently, the governor had sounded powerless and at his wits’ end over the security of his people, hence the call on the beleaguered citizens to take their destiny in their hands and take up arms against their tormentors.
However, the Katsina governor’s elixir for peace has no basis in the country’s laws. It is unlawful for citizens to have arms illegally, an offence, which attracts imprisonment for not less than 10 years. Or does the governor, who was once a Speaker of the House of Representatives, not know the law?
We must emphasise that it is the responsibility of the government at all levels to guarantee the security and safety of all citizens. Governor Masari cannot abdicate this responsibility or entrust it to the helpless citizens.
The call to arms by the Katsina governor is reflective of how government officials take unhelpful decisions and actions, which culminated in the dire situation in the country currently. He should rather resign if overwhelmed by the challenges of his office.
We, however, are not discountenancing the need for the citizens, who bear the brunt of banditry to offer intelligence that would assist the security forces in defeating the terrorists.
Instead of encouraging civilians to purchase arms to fight bandits, the Katsina governor should rather organise local vigilance groups, seek the Federal Government’s approval to engage ex-servicemen, who would bear arms and complement the efforts of the military and the police in strengthening security and safety of the people.