Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District, has defended his proposed bill to permit Nigerians to bear arms for self-defense, stating that it could deter criminal activities, particularly kidnappings.
In an interview with Channels TV on Wednesday, when asked if arming citizens would help address Nigeria’s security challenges, Nwoko confidently responded, “Oh, it will. It will.”
The senator then shared a personal story of loss, recounting how his Senior Legislative Aide was killed in a kidnapping incident last November. He described how kidnappers attacked the aide’s estate, going from house to house.
“When they got to their door, my SLA told his wife to hide with the children. He opened the door to talk to them, and he was taken away. We never saw him alive again,” he said.
Reflecting on the tragedy, Nwoko argued that armed citizens could discourage criminals from operating so freely.
“If he had a gun, or if others in the community had guns, would the kidnappers have had the audacity to go door to door? That wouldn’t happen,” he stated.
However, Nwoko emphasized that his proposal includes strict regulatory measures. “For you to have the license to have a gun, you must go through a training school, a shooting school, which is a training school. You must get confirmation from two doctors that you have a sound mind.”
He added, “You must get reports from the DSS and from the police. You must also be confirmed by your local traditional ruler that you are who you are.” Under his plan, only individuals who meet these qualifications would be permitted to carry arms.
