Senator Ned Nwoko, representing the Delta North Senatorial District, has publicly defended his proposed bill seeking to allow Nigerians to bear arms for self-defense, suggesting that such a measure could help curb the country’s rising security challenges, particularly kidnappings.
In a recent interview with Channels TV, Senator Nwoko argued that legally arming citizens could act as a deterrent to criminals and enhance the safety of communities nationwide.
When asked whether permitting Nigerians to carry arms would significantly address the nation’s security issues, Nwoko responded with confidence, saying, “Oh, it will. It will.”
In support of his argument, Nwoko shared a deeply personal account of loss, recalling the death of his Senior Legislative Aide (SLA) during a violent kidnapping incident last November.
Describing the tragic circumstances, he said, “The estate was attacked by kidnappers going from house to house. When they got to [my SLA’s] door, he 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.”
This experience, Nwoko emphasized, has shaped his belief that armed citizens could be instrumental in deterring criminals from acting with such impunity.
Reflecting on the incident, he questioned whether the outcome might have been different if his aide or members of the community had been armed. “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 remarked.
However, Nwoko stressed that his proposal includes rigorous safeguards to ensure that only responsible, trained individuals are permitted to carry firearms.
He outlined several stringent requirements that would be mandated under his plan, emphasizing that acquiring a firearm would involve thorough vetting and certification processes.
“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,” he explained. “You must get confirmation from two doctors that you have a sound mind. You must get reports from the Department of State Services (DSS) and from the police. You must also be confirmed by your local traditional ruler that you are who you are,” he added.
