Umar Namadi, governor of Jigawa state, says Nigeria has not reached the point where citizens should resort to self-defence.
Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi has stated that Nigeria is not yet at the point where citizens should resort to self-defense. Namadi made the comments during a Monday appearance on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television program. His remarks came after former Defense Minister Theophilus Danjuma suggested on Saturday that Nigerians take personal responsibility for their safety, citing rising incidents of kidnapping and violent attacks. Danjuma emphasized, “We have experienced kidnapping, the threat of kidnapping will continue until we, every one of us, rise up and defend ourselves.”
Namadi, however, cautioned against allowing citizens to bear arms, warning it could lead to anarchy. “His words need to be analyzed carefully,” Namadi said. He emphasized that dialogue, not self-defense, is a more effective solution, citing his administration’s success in resolving the farmer-herder con flict in Jigawa through engagement and dialogue.