Nigerian state to permit people to hold weapons in opposition to bandits

Nigeria’s Zamfara state will begin issuing licences to people to hold weapons to defend themselves in opposition to armed gangs of kidnappers inflicting havoc within the nation’s northwest, the state’s commissioner for info mentioned on Sunday.

Armed gangs are rife throughout Nigeria’s northwest the place they rob or kidnap for ransom, and violence has been growing, the place thinly stretched safety forces usually fail to cease the assaults.

The gunmen, identified domestically as bandits, function from distant forests within the northwest and their lethal assaults and kidnappings, focusing on villagers, farmers and travellers, have elevated for the reason that begin of the yr. Zamfara and neighbouring Kaduna are essentially the most affected, authorities say.

Ibrahim Magaji Dosara, Zamfara commissioner for info mentioned the state governor had directed the state police commissioner to situation 500 gun licences in every of the 19 emirates within the state to these wishing to defend themselves.

“Government is ready to facilitate people, especially our farmers to secure basic weapons for defending themselves,” Dosara mentioned in a press release.

Owning a gun in Zamfara wants permission from the state governor and state police commissioner.
Nigeria’s safety forces are stretched preventing an Islamist insurgency within the northeast of the nation, leaving particular person states to depend on vigilante teams to sort out the bandits, who transfer in massive numbers on bikes.

Last week, gunmen killed eight folks and kidnapped 38 others in an assault on two church buildings in Kaduna, a Christian group mentioned, weeks after one other lethal assault within the south west.
Dosara mentioned Zamfara will recruit extra neighborhood safety guards throughout the state to assist to combat the bandits whereas the state may even arrange a brand new paramilitary unit commanded by a retired police commissioner.

The state additionally banned using motorcyles and promoting of petrol in three districts and one emirate, in areas that are essentially the most affected by banditry, Dosara mentioned. The state is split into emirates and the emirates into districts.

“Anybody found riding motorbike within the areas is considered as bandits and security agencies are thereby directed to shoot such persons at sight,” mentioned Dosara.