Masari’s arms-for-civilians call evidence of Buhari’s failure – SANs - Newstrends
Connect with us

metro

Masari’s arms-for-civilians call evidence of Buhari’s failure – SANs

Published

5 years ago

on

Katsina State Governor, Bello Masari

Some senior advocates have described the call by the Katsina State Governor, Bello Masari, for private citizens to bear arms in order to fight bandits, as evidence of the failure of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

Senior lawyers, including Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN) and Ifedayo Adedipe, who spoke to our correspondents in separate interviews, said the call was an admission of failure, adding that both Buhari and Masari should resign.

Speaking at a press conference in Katsina on Wednesday, the governor said it was surprising that bandits owned guns and good people didn’t have any. He said Islam encourages people to defend themselves.

“We’ll support those who come with the initiative to procure arms because residents need to also complement the efforts of security agencies. These people (security agents) don’t have the number to protect the people…Even if we say every policeman should go back to his home state, it’ll still not be enough. So, if we fold arms and decide to do nothing, we’ll be the ones to suffer most,” he had said.

But human rights activist,  Adegboruwa (SAN) said the statement from the governor was an indirect call on  Buhari  to resign.

He added that the fact that the charge came from the governor of the President’s home state showed that the All Progressives Congress-led government had failed Nigerians.

Adegboruwa said, “This has further confirmed that the ruling APC has failed the people. The primary purpose of the government is to protect lives and properties and when the governor from the home state of the President has made a declaration of failure of protection by the government then the President  has no business remaining in power.

“In a saner society the calls by the Kastina state governor is an indirect call on the President to resign. They owe us the responsibility to protect us. It is a social contract we made with the government that is why we surrendered our commonwealth to them.

 “The pockets of insecurity we are witnessing are a reflection of the dissatisfaction of the society with governance and I don t think we should take it with a pinch of salt. It is not in the place of a governor to arm themselves that is the reason they are in office.”

Also speaking with The PUNCH, 83-year-old senior advocate, Robert Clarke, said the insecurity being experienced was as a result of poverty ravaging the states.

He, however, called on governors to look for means to eradicate poverty in their states in order to combat insecurity.

He said, “The chicken has come to roost. What they created is coming on them. What they are experiencing is a tip of the iceberg, they caused all the problems. They were pocketing what is meant for the citizens, they are reaping what they sowed.

“Their security votes are enough to have kept these boys from the streets. My advice to the governor is that instead of him calling on them to carry guns let him empower them with his security vote.”

But Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), in a chat with one of our correspondents, said Masari was only being realistic.

Ozkhome wondered how just 3,000 policemen would be able to secure a state like Katsina State.

He added, “No anarchy will be occasioned thereby. Self preservation is the first law of nature. The government having failed in its primary duties of protecting lives and properties and giving welfare to the people as prescribed by Section 14 of the 1999 Constitution, cannot prevent hapless citizens from defending themselves.

“The governor of President Buhari’s home state was merely being truthful and practical by crying out. What can 3000 policemen do for a vast state like Katsina? Nothing at all.”

For senior advocate, Ifedayo Adedipe, the call could lead to anarchy. Adedipe further stated that advising citizens to buy guns was enough grounds for resignation.

He said, “It is tragic and I do not support that call. That call is dangerous, not constitutional and not befitting of a governor. Is he admitting security has broken down under his watch? He is part of the APC tsunami that wrested power from the PDP under the guise of a change.

“The call can lead to anarchy. I cannot find any justification for the call except an admission of failure. Rather than advise us to get guns, they (Masari and Buhari) should leave office and let competent people come in. They brought this calamity on us. They should look for a way to solve it.”

Masari’s call an invitation to anarchy, chaos – Falana

In a statement titled, ‘Government is Duty Bound to Protect the People’, human rights ;lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), said instead of asking the people to take the law into their hands, the affected state governments should proceed to establish community defence brigades, train and equip the operatives to protect the people.

Falana, who is the Interim Chairman, Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond’, said Section 14 of the constitution provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of governments. He therefore argued that asking private citizens to bear arms would lead to anarchy.

The activist noted that in addressing the rising wave of terrorist attacks in the North-West, some governors granted amnesty to the so called repentant terrorists and paid huge sums of money to them for rehabilitation but the criminal gangs turned round to use the fund to buy more sophisticated weapons with which they have continued to unleash more dastardly attacks on the people.

The statement read in part, “The Armed Forces, the police and other security forces have not been able to overpower the terrorist groups. Worried over the balance of forces in favour of the terrorists, Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State has asked the people to acquire guns to defend themselves. While the frustration of the governor is understood, the directive that citizens should arm themselves is an invitation to anarchy and chaos.”

A former Director of the Department of State Services, Mike Ejifor, disagreed with the governor, stating that technology should be deployed to tackle insecurity in the state.

He said, “Two wrongs cannot make a right, you cannot use an illegality to confront legality but I think the governor is concerned and worried. I think he is desperately looking for ways to bring an end to insecurity in his state, do not also let us forget that is the President’s state. I condemn citizens buying guns. Instead, he should resort to technology to solve the problem.”

Punch

Loading

Related Topics:
Advertisement

metro

Elderly Man Flung to Death as Truck Overturns in Lagos

Published

2 hours ago

on

November 8, 2026

By

Elderly Man Flung to Death as Truck Overturns in Lagos

Elderly Man Flung to Death as Truck Overturns in Lagos

An elderly man has died after being flung out of a moving truck that overturned following a tyre burst around the TREM axis of Gbagada, inward Oshodi, Lagos State.

The fatal accident occurred around midnight on Sunday, November 8, 2026, involving a fully loaded Mercedes-Benz six-tyre truck conveying assorted goods, including sealed bags and newly branded event chairs.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) disclosed the incident in a statement issued by its Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq.

According to the agency, preliminary findings indicated that the truck, with registration number ABJ 37 AC, was travelling at considerable speed when one of its front tyres suddenly burst, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle.

During the ensuing struggle to stabilise the truck, an elderly male passenger seated in the front cabin was thrown out of the vehicle.

He reportedly struck his head against a sharp object, sustaining fatal injuries and dying at the scene.

LASTMA said its Night Rescue Team, which was conducting surveillance along major traffic corridors, promptly mobilised to the accident location, cordoned off the area and evacuated the deceased from the busy carriageway.

The body was subsequently moved into an ambulance operated by the Lagos State Emergency Medical Services to prevent further exposure to approaching motorists and reduce the risk of another accident.

READ ALSO:

Personnel of the Pedro Police Division and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service also participated in the emergency response.

The traffic management agency said its operatives deployed traffic cones and emergency warning signals around the scene to alert approaching motorists and ensure the safe movement of other road users.

However, the overturned truck could not be immediately recovered because of the volume and nature of its cargo.

LASTMA explained that arrangements had to be made to transfer the goods into another empty truck before the accident vehicle could be removed from the road.

Reacting to the incident, LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed condolences to the family of the deceased, describing the fatality as a painful and avoidable loss.

Bakare-Oki condemned excessive speeding, warning that it reduces drivers’ reaction time, compromises vehicle stability and increases the severity of road accidents, particularly when unexpected mechanical failures occur.

He said the consequences of the crash could potentially have been less severe if the truck had been travelling at a controlled speed, despite the sudden tyre burst.

The LASTMA boss urged operators of heavy-duty vehicles, commercial transporters and other motorists to observe speed limits and conduct regular mechanical inspections before embarking on journeys.

He specifically advised truck operators to pay attention to the condition of their tyres, braking systems and other critical vehicle components to reduce the risk of road crashes.

He also urged drivers to remain composed and apply appropriate vehicle-control techniques when confronted with sudden mechanical failures.

The agency reaffirmed its commitment to traffic surveillance, prompt emergency response and collaboration with relevant authorities to protect lives and property across Lagos State.

Elderly Man Flung to Death as Truck Overturns in Lagos

Loading

Continue Reading

metro

Zamfara: Bandits Allegedly Burn 13 Family Members Alive After Locking Them Inside Room

Published

10 hours ago

on

November 8, 2026

By

Bandits Demand N30m Ransom for Six Abducted Clerics in Zamfara

Zamfara: Bandits Allegedly Burn 13 Family Members Alive After Locking Them Inside Room

 

By Newstrends Correspondent

 

MARADUN, Zamfara State – Tragedy has reportedly struck Gidan Taba community in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State after suspected bandits allegedly killed 13 members of the same family by locking them inside a room and setting their house ablaze.

 

The victims were identified as Sani Ɗanwawo and 12 members of his family, who reportedly died in the inferno during an attack on Saturday night, November 7, 2026.

 

According to a report published by Daily Post on Sunday, November 8, the attackers allegedly confined all 13 occupants inside a room before setting the building on fire, leaving them with no opportunity to escape.

 

The incident was disclosed by Bakatsine, a security and conflict reporter who monitors banditry and other security developments in Nigeria’s North-West region, in a post on X.

 

The reported killing represents another disturbing incident in Zamfara State, which has continued to experience attacks by armed groups, including killings, kidnappings and destruction of property.

 

Maradun Local Government Area and other parts of the state have witnessed repeated security challenges, leaving residents exposed to violence and displacement.

 

However, details surrounding the latest incident, including the identities of all the victims and possible reactions from security agencies, remain unclear.

 

As of the time of filing this report, independent confirmation of the reported 13 deaths from the Zamfara State Police Command or other security authorities had not been established.

 

Zamfara: Bandits Allegedly Burn 13 Family Members Alive After Locking Them Inside Room

Loading

Continue Reading

metro

[ICYMI] Lagos Summons DisCos, Regulators Over Persistent Power Outages, Seeks 24-Hour Electricity

Published

11 hours ago

on

November 8, 2026

By

Is Nigeria's Electricity Tariff Going Up? FG Finally Breaks Silence

Lagos Summons DisCos, Regulators Over Persistent Power Outages, Seeks 24-Hour Electricity

 

By Newstrends Correspondent

 

The Lagos State Government has summoned electricity regulators, distribution companies (DisCos), power resellers and suppliers to a major energy summit aimed at addressing persistent electricity shortages and finding lasting solutions to the state’s unreliable power supply.

 

The initiative is part of efforts to develop a roadmap towards achieving reliable, round-the-clock electricity across Lagos State, amid growing complaints from residents and businesses over frequent power outages.

 

The Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Biodun Ogunleye, disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing ahead of the 2026 Lagos Energy Summit.

 

The summit, themed “Lagos Energy Evolution: Transforming the Future,” is scheduled for November 10 and 11, while a technical tour will take place on November 12 at selected energy infrastructure facilities.

 

Ogunleye said the gathering would bring together critical stakeholders across the electricity value chain to examine structural challenges affecting the sector and develop practical solutions capable of improving electricity supply.

 

He explained that discussions would focus on electricity sector reforms, energy efficiency, renewable energy, metering solutions and alternative sources of power.

 

According to the commissioner, the government intends to move beyond policy declarations and ensure that the summit produces practical outcomes that can improve electricity access and strengthen Lagos’ energy infrastructure.

 

The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Ibilola Kasumu, said the summit would adopt a different approach from conventional industry gatherings by placing actual problems before experts for possible solutions.

 

She explained that the objective was to bring stakeholders together to identify challenges within the electricity value chain and develop workable strategies for addressing them.

 

Kasumu added that the government hoped to establish a framework for reliable electricity supply that could eventually serve as a model for other states.

 

Ogunleye also disclosed that the Lagos State Government was engaging the Federal Government on issues surrounding their respective regulatory responsibilities and the need to strengthen the state’s control over its electricity infrastructure.

 

The discussions are expected to cover the development of renewable energy, alternative power sources and other initiatives that could reduce dependence on conventional electricity generation.

 

The summit will also showcase clean-energy innovations by young Nigerians, including projects and prototypes developed by secondary school students.

 

The development comes amid persistent complaints by Lagos residents over erratic electricity supply, which has continued to affect households, commercial activities and small businesses across the state.

 

The Lagos government says achieving a more reliable energy system is essential to supporting economic growth, attracting investment and advancing its ambition of building a 24-hour economy.

 

However, residents will be watching closely to see whether the summit produces concrete measures capable of addressing the electricity challenges affecting communities across Lagos.

 

Lagos Summons DisCos, Regulators Over Persistent Power Outages, Seeks 24-Hour Electricity

Loading

Continue Reading

Trending