Insecurity: “Buy Arms and Defend Yourselves Against Bandits” — Emir Tells Nigerians

The Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Muhammad Samaila Mera, has broken his silence on the security situation in Kebbi State, issuing a strong directive to his subjects to take up arms legally and defend themselves against rampaging bandits. 

The prominent traditional ruler delivered this charge during an emergency security meeting held at his palace in Argungu. The session was attended by district heads, village chiefs, and ward leaders from across the emirate.

Addressing the traditional leaders, the monarch expressed deep worry over how easily local communities are being overrun by armed groups, stating that the current situation requires urgent civic action.

The traditional ruler explained that the sheer scale of the security crisis in the North West has overstretched national security agencies. Because security forces cannot be everywhere at once, the monarch advised residents to explore lawful alternatives.

He suggested that communities should pool their financial resources to acquire legally approved firearms to build up their internal defense systems. 
Vanguard News

The royal father emphasized that making these defensive preparations public could act as a strong psychological deterrent to criminals.

“If you acquire such weapons legally, make sure the bandits are aware that your community possesses the means to defend itself. This alone can serve as a deterrent and discourage attacks,” he said.

The Emir expressed disappointment over the lack of resistance shown by rural communities during raids, noting that the absence of defensive tools often triggers mass panic.

“When bandits attack, people start running, including village heads. This is happening because communities do not have adequate means of self-defence,” he stated.

Reflecting on the moral and spiritual implications of the crisis, the monarch told the gathering that remaining passive in the face of violent aggression is unacceptable.

“It is not right for a Muslim to remain passive while criminals kill people, kidnap innocent citizens and rape our women. Be prepared to defend yourselves, your families and your communities against any attack,” he declared.

The traditional ruler, however, clarified that his call to action should not be misinterpreted as an endorsement of anarchy, extrajudicial violence, or ethnic profiling. He cautioned residents against launching retaliatory strikes or forming unauthorized vigilante factions.

He noted that self-defense must be fully coordinated within the boundaries of the law and in partnership with official security agencies.

“I will not support anyone carrying arms to attack other ethnic groups or engage in unlawful killings,” he cautioned.