The lawmaker representing Delta North Senatorial District, Senator Ned Nwoko, has defended his proposed bill allowing Nigerians to bear arms for self-defence stating that it could serve as a deterrent against criminal activities, particularly kidnappings.
When asked if Nigerians carrying arms will solve the nation’s security problem, Nwoko, in an interview with Channels TV on Wednesday, said, “Oh, it will. It will.”
Nwoko then shared a personal story of loss, recounting how his Senior Legislative Aide (SLA) was killed in a kidnapping incident last November.
“The estate was attacked by kidnappers 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 said.
However, Nwoko clarified that his proposal includes strict regulations.
“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.
“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,” he said, adding that only qualified individuals would be allowed to carry arms under his plan.
