While reacting to his recent statement where the Zamfara State Governor had called for the citizens to get licenses and procure guns for self defence against the menace of banditry in the State, the Yoruba socio-political organisation which is also known as Afenifere, has condemned the Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle’s self-defense call in the State.
Afenifere had motioned to the residents of the State that carrying and procuring guns was not the solution to security challenges.
Matawalle had earlier made a directive to some of the residents of the State to procure guns in self-defense.
The Matawalle-led State Government had also directed the State Police Commissioner, Mr. Ayuba Elkanah to issue licenses to residents of the State who are qualified to use guns for self-defense.
Condemning the directive, Afenifere’s spokesman, Jared Ajayi, said such an order showed the failure of the government.
In a statement he signed, Ajayi had recounted how some of the bandits killed two people and abducted 22 others in Rafin Daji area of Abaji in Abuja last week, amid several other attacks across the country.
The statement reads partly: “The situation had reached such a height that Zamfara State government, joining its Katsina State counterpart, asked residents of the State to ‘buy guns to defend themselves’ against terrorists who are making life difficult for them.”
Afenifere decried the step taken by Zamfara State government maintaining that asking everyone to carry gun is not the solution to the problem.
“If anything, such a directive is an open declaration of failure on the part of the government.
“This is why we are strongly advocating for the establishment of State Police,” he said.