BY Dyepkazah Shibayan
Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, chief of defence staff, Lawal Daura, director-general of the the Department of State Services (DSS), and some service chiefs are currently in a meeting at the senate.
Representatives from the Nigeria customs service (NCS), Nigerian immigration service (NIS) and office of the national security adviser (ONSA) are also at the upper legislative chamber.
They are briefing the senators on measures taken to curb the proliferation of firearms into the country.
Their invitation to the senate was sequel to a motion passed by the lawmakers on May 8 after bandits attacked Gwaska village in Birnin Gwari local government area of Kaduna. The attack left at least 50 people dead.
Sarkin Fawa (head of vigilante) was one of those reportedly killed by the bandits in the attack.
Suleiman Hunkuyi, senator of representing Kaduna north, while moving the motion, said the situation has gotten to the extent were some leaders have been called on their people to defend themselves.
He said there was an urgent need for the security agencies to intervene in the situation.
“This is attributable to the inability to control the proliferation of firearms into this country; as well as negligence from the departments of government entrusted with the responsibility to control how individuals, corporate entities can acquire and maintain firearms in Nigeria, but particularly the free access by hoodlums to acquire firearms easily,” Hunkuyi had said.
“The situation has worsened to the extent that some opinion leaders are calling on Nigerians to stand up and protect themselves.
“These prodding at self-defence, if not checked through action by the government, would certainly get to the extent that firearm would be secured by every household either in the name of protection or for some other purposes. From the observation of the United States experience, such a scenario will not augur well for this country.”
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