The lawmaker representing Delta North Senatorial District, Ned Nwoko, has explained the logic behind his call for the introduction of a Bill that allows civilians to own and carry firearms.
Speaking on Arise TV’s ‘The Morning Show’ on Thursday, he described the police as incapable and ill-funded.
“My Bill is predicated on the lawlessness that is currently pervading the nation. We all have experienced it, or we know somebody who has experienced it, someone who has been kidnapped by armed robbers, kidnappers, militants, herdsmen, and all of them.
“We have really come to a point in this country where we must make an honest admission to ourselves, which is that the security agencies cannot really protect lives and properties as enshrined in the constitution.
“The common citizen does not get any type of support from the police. The police as a force are unequipped, ill-funded, and incapable of discharging those duties.
“I am on the Senate Committee On Police Matters, and I can tell you that we do not have the number of police that we need to secure Nigeria as a country.
Speaking of the military, Nwoko said billions have been spent on equipping the military’s fight against terrorism, yet they are unable to deal with the issues.
He said, “So a lot of money has been spent. A lot of lives have been lost, and we are nowhere near finding a solution.
“The idea of a bill to enable Nigerians to carry firearms and defend themselves is born out of desperation. The fact is that people do not have the type of protection they need.”
