Reactions as Miyetti Allah defends Bauchi gov, tells FG to allow all Nigerians to carry arms
- Miyetti Allah has defended the governor of Bauchi state over his comment defending herdsmen bearing arms
- The chairman of the herders association in Bauchi state, Sadiq Ibrahim Ahmed, explained that the governor didn’t say herders should go and cause chaos with weapons
- Ahmed also said the federal government should allow every Nigerian to carry arms to protect themselves
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Amid the rising security challenges in the country, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeder’s Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has advised the federal government to allow every Nigerian to bear firearms to protect themselves.
The chairman of MACBAN in Bauchi state, Alhaji Sadiq Ibrahim Ahmed, stated this while reacting to the comment by the state's governor, Bala Mohammed, defending the right of herders to go about with AK-47, The Nation reported.
The Bauchi state governor had said herdsmen are only carrying firearms for self-defence against cattle rustlers, drawing criticisms from many Nigerians.
Source: Twitter
However, the Bauchi MACBAN chair was reported as saying on Sunday, February 14, there is nothing wrong with the governor’s stand since he didn’t say herdsmen should go and cause chaos with the weapon.
Ahmed said it is for every Nigerian to protect themselves from bandits, adding that the federal government can no longer protect the citizens.
His words:
“Let everybody protect themselves, let everybody carry arms. You don’t allow few bandits to come and ruin you, kill you, kill your family as few people cannot be terrorizing everybody.”
The MACBAN boss, however, admitted that no one should be allowed to carry arms in a normal situation apart from those that are legalised to do so.
He added:
“I won’t fault Governor Bala Mohammed for the statement, he is very right. After all, he did not say herdsmen should go and cause chaos."
What law permits herders to carry AK-47? Ortom asks
Meanwhile, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state has reacted to the statement by his Bauchi counterpart, Bala Mohammed, on herders carrying weapons.
Ortom in his reaction through Terver Akase, his spokesperson, said he was disappointed in Mohammed's statement.
He said such utterances are capable of leading the country to anarchy.
Nigerians react
The statement by the chairman of MACBAN in Bauchi state that every citizen should be allowed to bear arms has sparked reactions from Nigerians on social media.
Ibrahim Yahaya commented on Facebook:
"It would have been more meaningful if only you call the criminal herdsmen to order because these criminal herdsmen are not only disturbing the West or South but Nigeria as a whole indeed Northern Nigeria suffer the most, please stop the hypocritical statement, do the needful"
Kabiru Ahmadu said:
"We are gradually heading to banana republic, may God help us. What a country Nigeria, I keep on asking this question, how do we get to this point?"
Oludare Michael Akinwumi said:
"What you people don't know is that, the start of a war can be narrated by many but few will witness its end."
Itz Princeboateng Osuagwu said:
"Good idea somehow, because of insecurity in the nation"
Bolaji Akinbehinje said:
"I think these guys should be arrested asap ...the group disband and proscribe..."
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Nurudeen Lawal is a Legit.ng journalist passionate about fact-checking/verification journalism. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature-in-English from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. As Politics Editor, Nurudeen mostly writes on Nigeria’s political and socio-economic developments. He has attended different workshops, conferences and training on fact-checking and digital reporting, among others. Learn more about him on Twitter, @Nurudeen Lawal_
Source: Legit.ng
