A security expert has said that Nigeria must provide “a first layer security” to resist mass abduction in their homes and places of worship while awaiting responses from government forces.
In an interview with Leadership’s Tarkaa David, Veterans Federation of Nigeria secretary-general Awwal Abdullahi Aliyu said the government should start arming local vigilantes with modernised Dane guns, supervised by the Nigerian Police.
“We have recommended in the past that some selected persons be allowed to carry certain local weapons, and that is why Hunters Group of Nigeria are allowed to carry Dane guns,” said Mr Aliyu.
“But these Dane guns, even though locally manufactured, some of them carry eight rounds. That means you can shoot concurrently eight times before you are exhausted and will have to reload.”
He further suggested that the strategy would provide the much-needed “first resistance” to deter bandits and reduce kidnappings.
“Those hunters and vigilantes live within the communities, so they are community-based people,” he said.
“If they have such level of weapons with permission, then with such level of strict monitoring and evaluation, when bandits come around to attack a community, they can come out and put up some level of resistance before the main force, Police or Army, come to crush the threat.
“I think that is important. That is what is called a first layer security or resistance.”
