Kebbi emir urges residents to acquire weapons for self-defense against criminal gangs
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
Samaila Muhammad Mera, the emir of Argungu in Nigeria's Kebbi state, has called on residents to pool resources and purchase weapons to defend themselves against attacks by criminal gangs. In an online video, Mera urged local chiefs to procure arms, stating that the government is overwhelmed and communities should protect their homes and property. Kebbi State has experienced sporadic attacks from both jihadists, including the Lakurawa group, and non-ideological criminal gangs known as bandits. These gangs kidnap travelers, raid villages, abduct residents, and loot homes. Mera, a prominent traditional chief, emphasized that communities should stockpile arms, even if it means risking their lives. This call for self-defense echoes similar appeals from other influential figures in northern Nigeria, such as former Katsina state governor Aminu Bello Masari in August 2021 and Attahiru Muhammad Ahmad, a traditional chief in Zamfara, in December 2020. While traditional rulers lack constitutional powers, they hold significant cultural influence. Many farming and herding communities in northern states have formed vigilante groups due to incessant bandit attacks, though these groups have also been accused of extrajudicial killings, leading to cycles of violence and subsequent bans by state governments.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
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