Revolvers to Automatic Pistols. Photo Courtesy of DWA
The debate over whether Nigerians should have a constitutional right to bear arms has moved from the margins of political discourse to the centre of national security discussions. What was once regarded as an unlikely proposition is now being openly debated in legislative circles, security institutions, traditional authorities and communities affected by banditry, terrorism and kidnapping.
For many Nigerians, the issue is no longer theoretical. It is shaped by a simple question: if the state cannot provide adequate protection, should citizens have the legal right to defend themselves? The debate touches on one of the most fundamental questions in statecraft. Modern governments are built on the principle that the state maintains a monopoly on force. Citizens surrender the right to private violence in exchange for protection provided by police, courts and the military.
The challenge facing Nigeria is that growing numbers of
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