Argungu Emir urges communities to legally obtain weapons for self‑defence against bandits

In light of the ongoing insecurity across the country, the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Muhammad Samaila Mera, has urged his people to legally obtain weapons to safeguard their communities from bandit attacks.

The Emir also called on residents throughout the emirate to stay alert and watchful for enemies and criminals within their own neighborhoods.

He made these remarks during a meeting with district heads, village heads and ward heads at his palace in Argungu, suggesting that communities raise funds together to purchase legally approved weapons for self‑defence.

“If you acquire such weapons legally, make sure the bandits are aware that your community possesses the means to defend itself. This alone can serve as a deterrent and discourage attacks,” he said.

According to him, Islam does not encourage people to remain helpless in the face of violence, just as it is not right for a Muslim to stay passive while criminals kill people, kidnap innocent citizens, and rape women.

“Be prepared to defend yourselves, your families, and your communities against any attack,” the Emir stated.

He expressed regret that many communities have become vulnerable because they lack the means to defend themselves, adding: “When bandits attack, people start running, including village heads. This is happening because communities do not have adequate means of self‑defence.”

He clarified that he is not encouraging communities to take the law into their own hands or engage in acts of terrorism, but rather advocating lawful self‑defence, noting that the security challenge has become too overwhelming for security agencies alone to handle.

He said it is disheartening for communities to continue to lose lives without any form of resistance, while warning against ethnic violence and extrajudicial killings, stressing that he would not support anyone carrying arms to attack other ethnic groups or engage in unlawful killings.