The call by Katsina State governor, Bello Masari, to people in the state and region to defend themselves against senseless attacks and killings by bandits has been backed by Northern socio-political organization, the Arewa Consultative Forum and the Middle Belt Forum.
Masari had on Tuesday asked the people of the state to arm and defend themselves against bandits.
The governor said, “It is morally wrong for people to submit meekly to the bandits without any attempt to defend themselves. Security is everybody’s business.
“It is the people’s meek submission that emboldens the bandits to continue with their heinous activities with murderous frequency. We must free our minds of the notion that security is the sole responsibility of the government.”
ACF, in their reaction on Wednesday, put their weight behind the governor by asking northerners to take up arms and defend themselves against the rampaging bandits in the region.
The forum’s National Publicity Secretary, Emmanuel Yawe, told newsmen on Wednesday that the organisation was in full support of Masari’ s order, adding that “Governor Masari has said the right thing”.
Explaining that Masari’s call mandating Katsina people to arm themselves against bandits terrorising communities in the state was in order, Yawe argued that it had been proven that bandits dreaded local hunters more than the regular forces.
The ACF spokesman said, “Not all weapons are banned. In the rural areas, some people are armed with bows and arrows. Even guns are allowed where police permit is issued. The arms are legal when such permits are issued.
“Do not also forget that local hunters in Adamawa gave Boko Haram hell. Boko Haram dreaded them more than the combined team of army and police.
“The locals know the terrain more than the army and police, who are assembled from all over the country in line with the Federal Government policy on recruitments into government agencies. No wonder they (local hunters) were recruited to join the fight against Boko Haram. Governor Masari has said the right thing.”
On its part, the Middle Belt Forum made known the need for government to buy and equip the people with weapons to enable them to defend themselves against terrorists’ attacks.
The National President of the MBF, Dr Bitrus Pogu, who described the call as a welcome development, said, “If the governor has come to the reality of the security challenge facing the people, then let him go a step further and help the people to defend themselves.
“This is necessary because there is a problem here. No doubt, the people are ready to defend themselves, but do they have the resources to acquire weapons? The answer is no. So, the whole thing reverts back to the government.
“If the governor is serious about what he has said, let him help the communities that are vulnerable to acquire weapons and license them in such a way that vigilantes in those communities would be adequately armed to enable them to face any security threat by the terrorists in their communities. If he can do that, I believe the people will be able to defend themselves.”
