The Emir of Argungu in Kebbi State, Alhaji Muhammad Samaila Mera, has charged his subjects to legally acquire weapons to protect themselves and their communities against incessant attacks by bandits.
He also urged communities in the emirate to be vigilant and take proactive measures against terrorists and criminal elements that often invade the areas.
He made this call while meeting with district heads, village heads, and ward heads at his palace in Argungu, recommending that communities should collectively raise funds to purchase legally approved weapons for self-defence.
“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 traditional ruler pointed out that Islam does not encourage people to remain helpless in the face of violence.
“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 said.
He clarified that he was not encouraging communities to take the law into their own hands or engage in acts of terrorism, but rather advocating lawful self-defence, noting that the security challenge has become too overwhelming for security agencies alone to handle.
Mera lamented that many communities had become vulnerable because they lack the means to defend themselves.
According to him, “When bandits attack, people start running, including village heads. This is happening because communities do not have adequate means of self-defence.”
He said it was disheartening for communities to continue to lose lives without any form of resistance, while warning against ethnic violence and extrajudicial killings.
The emir warned that he would not support anyone carrying arms to attack other ethnic groups or engage in unlawful killings.
While observing that many of the attacks are reprisals, he urged the communities not to carry out revenge attacks against innocent people because every unlawful killing only breeds another cycle of revenge.
Mera said that, although many members of the Lakurawa group had left the area, they had allegedly left behind armed bandits who continue to terrorize communities and maintain links with their former collaborators.
He called on communities across the Argungu Emirate to remain vigilant, cooperate with security agencies, and uphold the fear of God in all their dealings.