Solomon Dalung, the former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, has called on the Nigerian government to move beyond the ongoing discourse on state policing by constitutionally guaranteeing citizens the legal right to bear arms for personal protection.
In a statement shared on his Facebook page this Wednesday, Dalung criticized the centralized police system for its failure to safeguard lives and property, leaving everyday Nigerians exposed to danger while enabling criminals and protecting political elites.
“The conversation around establishing state police has resurfaced prominently in constitutional debates, with strong arguments presented on both sides,” Dalung remarked.
He pointed out that while much attention is given to the pros and cons of decentralizing law enforcement, the current security situation in Nigeria has worsened beyond such limited discussions.
“Given the breakdown and compromise of our existing security framework, what is urgently required is not only the creation of police forces at the state, local government, and community levels but also a constitutional amendment that permits citizens to legally bear arms for self-defense,” the former minister emphasized.
Dalung expressed concern over the fact that terrorists, bandits, and violent offenders have easy access to advanced weaponry such as automatic rifles, rocket launchers, and drones, whereas law-abiding citizens remain unarmed and vulnerable.
He also condemned the practice of state governments inviting armed groups to government-sponsored peace talks, where these groups openly display their weapons in the presence of security agencies.
“Currently, violent criminals and terrorists openly brandish sophisticated arms-including automatic rifles, hand grenades, rocket launchers, and drone technology-causing immense suffering to innocent Nigerians who have no means to defend themselves.
“Paradoxically, these criminals receive VIP treatment at government-organized peace meetings, where they showcase their weapons openly before security forces, including the military.
“Meanwhile, ordinary citizens risk arrest and prosecution for even possessing a kitchen knife for protection. This glaring double standard leaves the general population defenseless, trapped in a system that safeguards the wealthy and violent while criminalizing the vulnerable,” he stated.
Dalung argued that Nigeria’s security system is heavily biased against the average citizen, designed more to protect political elites, criminal networks, and financiers of terrorism than the general public.
He drew parallels with the United States, noting that Nigeria’s presidential system was modeled after the American system, which operates multiple layers of policing at federal, state, county, and municipal levels, while also upholding the constitutional right of citizens to bear arms.
Accusing opponents of reform of deceit and complicity, Dalung said, “Those resisting state policing and the right to bear arms are deliberately misleading the public. Many benefit directly from the broken security system, exploiting the chaos for political advantage or shielding financiers of terrorism who continue to act with impunity.”
He further lamented the government’s refusal to disclose the identities of terrorism sponsors or prosecute them, a failure that has deepened public distrust in the state’s commitment to citizen protection.
Dalung concluded by urging a thorough constitutional revision to establish empowered state, local government, and community police forces authorized to carry arms, alongside granting responsible citizens the legal right to possess weapons for self-defense.
