As the precarious security situation across Nigeria worsens, leaving defenceless citizens feeling more unsafe, showing the utter failure of the Nigerian authorities to protect lives and properties, Nigeria’s Army chief believes that allowing citizens to carry arms will lead to “anarchy.”
After dozens of his people were killed and scores left homeless in a series of “well-coordinated” attacks between December 23 and 25, Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State urged residents to take up arms and defend themselves.
“We must stay united to defend our communities,” Governor Mutfwang told the people of Plateau in a statement after the bloody Christmas Eve attacks.
But the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja disagrees.
“I do not support that. I think that is a call for anarchy. When you have a situation where people freely carry and use arms, then it becomes a lawless state,” General Lagbaja said on Channels Television’s end-of-year programme “2023: Year Of Transition” on Sunday.
He also assuaged citizen’s fears that the military is failing to defend communities.
“The Nigerian army is the people’s army. It is organised. Funded with the people’s money to protect lives and property,” the Army chief added.
