Buy arms to defend yourselves, an Emir in Nigeria has told his subjects.
The Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Muhammad Samaila Mera, made the charge to people in his domain, in the wake of persistent bandit attacks.
Speaking during a meeting with heads of districts, villages and wards at his palace in Argungu, the emir said self-arming had become necessary even if implies raising money collectively.
“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.
“It is not right for a Muslim to remain passive while criminals kill people, kidnap innocent citizens, and rape our women.
“Be prepared to defend yourselves, your families, and your communities against any attack,” the Emir stated.
“When bandits attack, people start running, including village heads. This is happening because communities do not have adequate means of self-defense.”
Lamenting the continued loss of lives in communities due to insecurity, he said self-defense had become inevitable, and that it should not be misconstrued as people taking the laws into their own hands.
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The communities within the Argungu Emirate he further advised should remain vigilant in order not to be taken unawares.
They should not only continue to fear god, but cooperative against a common enemy.
Self-defense he said would ensure that these communities do not continue to lose lives carelessly, to the enemies
He said it was disheartening for communities to continue to lose lives without any form of resistance, while warning against ethnic violence and extrajudicial killings.
Buy arms to defend yourselves if necessary, he admonished the people in his domain.
