Nigerian activist and author, Raphael Adebayo, has called on the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government to legalise and democratise access and opportunity to own and use firearms and ammunition in Nigeria.

Adebayo explained that the legalisation of firearms and ammunition could no longer be avoided due to the insecurity crisis in most parts of the country that had turned ordinary Nigerians into sitting ducks.

In a 15-point statement released on Saturday, January 20, 2024, the activist stated that Nigerians are under a “violent siege by Islamist terrorists, Fulani herders, and violent criminals.”

Adebayo declared that “the last ten years have exposed the disgraceful ineptitude of the Nigerian security apparatus to protect Nigerians,” adding that the Tinubu administration has "publicly confessed to the people’s suspicion that the Nigerian state has relinquished its authority and constitutional mandate to diligently protect the country’s forests and the people living within and around heavily forested areas."

Adebayo explained that the police to population ratio in Nigeria is "grossly insufficient" and lamented the fact that "there are more illegal guns than there are actual human beings in the most populous country of Black people on earth." According to the activist, this dreadful situation means that ‘most ordinary Nigerians are practically sitting ducks for Islamist terrorists, Fulani herders, and violent criminals."

Recounting the security crisis across Nigeria, the activist explained that it is highly unfortunate that kidnappers are controlling major highways and terrorists have taken over numerous villages and communities in the country, demanding "terror levies" from residents and killing those who fail to meet the demand. He added that "Nobody is safe: Christians, Muslims, farmers, ethnic minorities, youth, men, women, and most unfortunately, children."

According to the activist, it is time for the Nigerian government to "declare a State of Emergency on Insecurity in Nigeria and legalize gun ownership for all persons above 18 years old who are mentally fit to protect themselves, their properties, and their families." He added that this is in line with Section 33 (2) (a) of the 1999 constitution as amended, concluding that "Since the Nigerian state can no longer protect the people, it is time for the people to protect themselves."

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