Calls for Easier Access to Firearms for Citizens

Social media commentator Martins Vincent Otse, known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has urged the Nigerian government to help citizens protect themselves. He wants the government to make it easier for people to get guns.

Mr Otse spoke on Tuesday as a panellist at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He shared a video of his talk on Facebook.

Talking about the rising insecurity in Nigeria, Mr Otse said there are not enough police and military personnel to protect over 200 million people in the country.

"They need to make provisions for citizens to protect themselves. Make it easy for us to get guns because right now they are understaffed. They can’t protect everybody," Mr Otse said.

He further noted, "How many are there? The police and the military are not up to a million protecting over 200 million people."

Mr Otse recognized the role of security agencies in handling insecurity but emphasized the need for better welfare for personnel.

"Until we take care of them properly, they will keep on turning on us," he added.

A police officer on the panel agreed that better welfare could encourage security personnel to do their jobs well. However, he also called for more accountability in how resources for security are used, especially in buying equipment.

He urged for transparency in government purchases to ensure resources meant for improving the welfare and performance of security agencies are used properly.

Mr Otse also talked about the Fulani communities in Nigeria's security setup, saying they have a strong communication network that could help fight insecurity.

He claimed that information can quickly move across borders using this network.

Mr Otse made a clear distinction between Fulani people in Benue State and others he said come from outside to attack communities.

"The Fulani in Benue don’t attack the people in Benue. The Fulanis that come to attack are Fulanis from outside," he stated.

He also claimed that firearms are being moved through bushes across different states with the help of corrupt officials.

"The guns we are talking about are only with one ethnic group that knows the bushes more than everybody, Fulanis," he said.

He alleged that some corrupt government officials help transport firearms and money through these bushes.

Mr Otse's comments come as concerns about insecurity continue to grow in many parts of Nigeria. Armed groups, banditry, kidnapping, and communal violence are putting pressure on the country’s security agencies.