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Plateau Attack: ‘Nigerians Have Right To Self-Defence’, Falana Faults Army Chief’s Statement On Arms Bearing
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has criticised the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja’s statement where he sounded his disapproval for citizens to bear arms following coordinated attacks on Plateau State during the Yuletide by assailants.
“I do not support that. I think that is a call for anarchy,” the Army chief said on Sunday on Channels Television’s end-of-year programme “2023: Year Of Transition”
In his reply to this, Falana on Wednesday during the Sunrise Breakfast show said “In the first place, it is not correct to say Nigerians have no right to bear arms, Apart from the fact that the penal code applicable in the North and the criminal code applicable in the South recognises the right to self-defence,”
“In the first place, we have to discuss the rights and proceed to examine the propriety.”
“In other words, if someone aims a gun at me, and I can quickly grab another gun, I have the right to shoot.”
Asked to clarify if the law allows for one to bear guns, the Senior Advocate replied in the affirmative however noting that one needs a gun licence.
“But you are required to apply for the licence first, “ he said
However, Falana sounded a note of caution as regards what the constitution mandates when it comes to self-defence
“I am just saying the right to self -defence which is also guaranteed by the constitution.
“All I am not allowed to do is not use a force that is not proportional to the threat.“
“In other words, If you are going to hit me with a cane I must not go for a gun which is not proportional,“ he said.
Calls For Right To Bear Arms
Falana’s support for the right to bear arms by citizens comes as several lawmakers and governors have also appealed to the Federal Government to allow its people to protect themselves from incursions by bandits and terror groups.
ln May, a former majority leader Alhassan Ado-Doguwa made a presentation on the floor of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, calling on the federal government to allow citizens to bear arms for self-defence.
“Nigerians at this moment should be allowed to take arms to defend their innocent souls, to defend their hard-earned resources and properties. Because it’s like a monumental failure,” said the lawmaker, who represented the Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency of Kano State.
Ado-Doguwa made this remark on April 1 in reaction to the terrorist attack on the Abuja-Kaduna bound train days earlier, where up to 398 passengers were onboard.
Similarly, the former governor of Ondo state, Rotimi Akeredolu had called on the FG to allow officers of the Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed Amotekun Corps to bear arms
“If you can allow individuals to carry heavy arms to protect pipelines, why won’t you allow Amotekun to carry sophisticated weapons to protect the people? The oil facilities are not more important than the lives of the people,” he said.
Another former governor who shared the same opinion on the citizens obtaining arms to protect themselves was Zamfara’s Bello Matawalle who directed residents of the state to obtain guns to defend themselves against bandits who appeared to be ravaging the state.
“Government has henceforth, directed individuals to prepare and obtain guns to defend themselves against the bandits, as the government has directed the state commissioner of police to issue a license to all those who qualify and are wishing to obtain such guns to defend themselves,” a statement partly read
Matawalle’s directive was met with stiff opposition by the then Chief of Defence staff, Lucky Irabor, who said “I do not think that is the right way to go, The basis for asking citizens to bear arms; I am yet to know I believe that the Attorney General of the Federation will look at the constitution, what the laws say and what the powers of the Executive governor are to be able to do with this.”
The Zamfara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party also opposed Matawalle’s directive to the people of the state saying it would only lead to anarchy.
“As peace-loving and law-abiding citizens, we fault Zamfara State and the Federal Government for shifting such constitutional responsibility to ordinary citizens,” a statement by the party’s representative read.
President Bola Tinubu has appointed Mr Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan as the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, effective August 27, 2026.
This is contained in a statement by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday.
Enitan is replacing Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who is set to retire from the Federal Civil Service upon attaining the statutory retirement age of 60.
According to the statement, Enitan, from Osun State, is the most senior Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service.
He has served as Permanent Secretary for seven years and seven months, working at the Ministry of Police Affairs, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the Office of the Vice President.
The new head of the Civil Service of the Federation is currently the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education.
President Tinubu expressed appreciation to Walson-Jack for her distinguished service to the nation and for the reforms, impact and innovations witnessed in the Civil Service during her tenure.
He wished her a fulfilling and successful life after service and conveyed the nation’s gratitude for her years of dedicated and impactful public service, according to the statement.
The President equally charged the incoming Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to consolidate on the reforms and innovations already underway, deepen professionalism and efficiency across the Service, and build a more effective and responsive Civil Service capable of delivering on the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He also charged Enitan to lead a Civil Service that is professional, merit-driven, accountable, innovative, and responsive to Nigerians’ needs and aspirations.
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has received his Certificate of Return following his victory in the August 15, 2026 governorship election.
He received the certificate at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office on Wednesday.
An excited Adeleke danced amid cheers and jubilation from Accord Party members and supporters.
Shortly after, the governor arrived at the Ataoja Palace in Osogbo, welcomed by a crowd of residents.
INEC declared Adeleke as the winner of the election on Sunday.
It said that Adeleke polled 511,067 votes, defeating the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who got 444,815 votes.
It also said that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate Najeem Salaam polled 17,180 votes.
The governor won in 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas to secure a second term of four years, while Oyebamiji won in 11.
Adeleke described the result as a triumph for democracy and pledged to use his second term to transform Osun from a civil-service-dependent state into an industrial hub.
He received congratulatory messages from President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), among others.
The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, has urged corps members to exercise caution in their use of social media ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He warned them against spreading misinformation, sharing artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content, or engaging in partisan political activities.
Speaking during his working visit to the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Stream II Orientation Course at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Katsina on Wednesday, Brigadier General Nafiu described corps members as critical stakeholders in shaping Nigeria’s future and called on them to think critically before reposting or forwarding online content.
He stressed that with the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, manipulated images and videos have become increasingly common, making it imperative for young Nigerians to verify information before sharing it.
“You don’t just share or repost blindly. Think through what you receive. Verify the source, check when the picture was taken, and determine whether it has been manipulated by AI. Technology has changed the information space completely,” he said.
The NYSC Director-General noted that Nigeria is entering a sensitive political period as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum, warning corps members to remain neutral and refrain from using their social media platforms to promote political parties or candidates.
“As corps members, you are not permitted to campaign for any political party or candidate. If your social media activities are traced to political promotion while wearing the NYSC identity, appropriate action will be taken,” he cautioned.
He reminded them that many corps members would serve as ad hoc electoral personnel during the next general elections, describing the assignment as a rare privilege to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.
“You contribute more to democracy by helping thousands of Nigerians exercise their voting rights than by casting only your own vote. Your service will help deliver credible, free and fair elections,” he added.
Brigadier General Nafiu also encouraged corps members to embrace the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, saying vocational skills have become indispensable in today’s competitive economy.
According to him, the programme is designed not only to teach practical skills but also to inspire corps members to pursue lifelong learning and entrepreneurship.
The NYSC boss further explained that the orientation course is structured to instill discipline, teamwork, leadership, obedience and a sense of responsibility through various activities, including drills and the Man O’ War obstacle exercises.
Earlier, the Katsina State NYSC Coordinator, Evans Okwor, disclosed that the orientation exercise commenced successfully on August 5 with the arrival of camp officials.
He said a total of 1,333 corps members, comprising 759 males and 574 females, were registered, while 363 camp officials, made up of 173 NYSC staff and 190 personnel from collaborating agencies, are supporting the exercise.
Okwor stated that the camp clinic remains adequately equipped with essential drugs and staffed by 40 medical personnel, including doctors, pharmacists, nurses, laboratory scientists, dental therapists, a radiographer and a veterinary doctor.
According to him, 783 corps members and 40 camp officials have so far received medical attention, with 14 referrals made to the General Hospital, Katsina, while two patients remain on admission.
He added that the most common health challenges recorded include malaria, typhoid fever, asthma, peptic ulcer disease, body pains and blood pressure-related conditions.
The State Coordinator commended the corps members for maintaining a high level of discipline and adapting positively to camp activities.
It will be recalled that the Katsina State Government recently pledged to rehabilitate and remodel the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp following concerns over the deteriorating condition of its facilities, including hostels that have remained largely untouched for over two decades.
The 2026 Batch ‘B’ Stream II Orientation Course is scheduled to conclude on August 25, 2026.
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