Nigeria’s Zamfara state authorities on Sunday called on the local people to arm themselves against criminal gangs in an attempt to deal with the increasing numbers of kidnappings and violent attacks, reported The BBC.
On Sunday, Ibrahim Magaji Dosara, Zamfara’s commissioner for information, said the state will start issuing licences to individuals to carry guns to defend themselves against armed gangs who often target unprotected rural communities, schools and motorists on highways.
Notably, armed gangs are very active across Nigeria’s northwest where they rob or kidnap people for ransom, and violence has been increasing. The security forces often fail to stop the attacks. Zamfara and neighbouring Kaduna are Nigeria’s most affected regions.
Dosara said the state governor had ordered to issue 500 gun licences in each of the 19 emirates in the state to the locals, who will first need to get themselves registered before getting a weapon.
The information commissioner said the government is willing to facilitate people, especially the farmers to secure basic weapons for defending themselves.
Last week, unidentified gunmen killed at least eight people and kidnapped 38 others in an attack on two churches in Kaduna, weeks after another deadly attack in Nigeria’s south west.
Dosara said Zamfara will also deploy additional community protection guards across the state to help to fight the bandits. He added that the state will set up a new paramilitary unit commanded by a retired police commissioner.
In other measures, the governor of Zamfara has also ordered the closure of markets in three districts, banned the use of motorcycles and sales of petroleum products. A shoot-to-kill order has been given to anyone found using a motorcycle in these areas.
“Anybody found riding motorbike within the areas is considered as bandits and security agencies are thereby directed to shoot such persons at sight,” said Dosara.
