President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has said Nigerians have a constitutional right to defend themselves against attackers, including in life-threatening situations, while maintaining that the Federal Government is intensifying efforts to tackle insecurity across the country.
Bwala stated this during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday while reacting to recent attacks, including the killings in Esiele community in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State and the abduction of teachers and pupils at LA Primary School.
Speaking on citizens’ rights, Bwala said the Nigerian Constitution recognises self-defence as a legitimate right.
“The constitution has guaranteed to every citizen of Nigeria the right to self-defence; you have the right to defend yourself,” he said.
“When your right, my right, and that of my neighbour is put together, it becomes collective rights to defend ourselves and Nigerians have the right to defend themselves.
“If you come to my house to try to kill me, any lethal weapon I use to defend myself is guaranteed by the Constitution,” he added.
He, however, clarified that the use and possession of firearms remain subject to existing laws.
“Nigerians don’t have the right to bear certain arms unless those arms are permitted but the collective people can come together to apply to the government for the right to coordinate themselves,” Bwala stated.
Addressing the wider insecurity situation, the presidential aide described criminal activities as a challenge faced globally, stressing that cooperation between citizens and government agencies remains crucial to ending the menace.
“Solution is what we all look to; evil men operate anywhere in the world, no matter how tight you are as a government.
“You do your best and expect that with the help of God and collective participation of the people through collective intelligence, we will be able to put an end to it,” he stressed.
Bwala also acknowledged the growing frustration among Nigerians over repeated attacks and killings across the country.
“I know the Nigerian people will continue to complain. For example, no matter how we say that we are sorry and the incident happens again, people will complain, cry and mourn because it’s the lives of the Nigerian people that are taken away by the evil element. We will put an end to this as a people,” he said.
He further argued that insecurity often escalates around election periods, linking it to what he described as a “crisis economy.”
“Every eve of elections in Nigeria from 2014, 2018, 2022, and now 2026, you will see that crisis increases because of the idea of a crisis economy. A lot of people take advantage of that but the will and spirit of the collective people is what will put an end to this situation,” he said.
Highlighting community-based security efforts, Bwala noted that local vigilante groups and paramilitary organisations have continued to support security agencies with intelligence gathering.
“As a people, we have vigilantes, and in Borno State, we have paramilitary organisations that provide intelligence to law enforcement,” he said.
