The federal government has cautioned Nigerians against taking up arms illegally to defend themselves against criminals.
Minister of police affairs, Muhammed Dingyadi, gave this warning on Tuesday during the second annual ministerial media briefing at the police headquarters in Abuja.
The minister was reacting to a call made by Katsina State governor, Aminu Masari, who asked residents of the state to rise above meekness and defend themselves against the bandits.
But speaking on Tuesday, Dingyadi said “I think we should know that we are in Nigeria, where everybody is entitled to his opinion. I think the governor has the right to canvass for what he thinks it is right in his state,”
“Of course, we shouldn’t expect the people to just be sleeping without taking measures to ensure that they secure themselves, they secure their neighbours and they secure their communities. That is the essence of community policing.
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“So, we need to have the support and partnership of Nigerians in the efforts we are making towards fighting crimes and criminalities. I think that is what the governor is talking about.
“Everybody should contribute his quota towards fighting crimes. We are not saying people should take arms illegally.”
“What we’re saying is that people should get ready in whatever it takes to do so, to ensure that we protect ourselves, we protect our neighbours, we protect our communities,” he said
