The lawmaker representing Delta North Senatorial District, Ned Nwoko, has defended his proposal for a bill that would allow civilians in Nigeria to own and carry firearms.
Speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Senator Nwoko reiterated his belief that enabling citizens to bear arms would help tackle the country’s insecurity challenges and allow individuals to effectively defend themselves.
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When asked whether carrying guns would resolve the nation’s security issues, Nwoko affirmed, “Yes, it will.” He shared a personal experience, recounting the tragic killing of his Senior Legislative Aide last November during a home invasion in Abuja.
Nwoko described the harrowing incident, saying, “My SLA was killed in November last year and the wife said the estate was attacked by kidnappers. When they got to their door, they wanted to knock down the door; the wife and kids went to hide under the bed in one of the rooms. When he went to open the door, he was taken, and nobody saw him again.
As a matter of fact, those people who took him away have been arrested. If he had a gun or members of that estate had guns, do you think the kidnappers would have the audacity to knock from house to house knowing that people are armed? That wouldn’t happen.”
Despite advocating for civilian gun ownership, Nwoko stressed that his proposal would involve stringent regulations. “For you to have the license to have a gun, you must go through a training school, a shooting school, which is a training school. You must get confirmation from two doctors that you have a sound mind. You must get reports from the DSS and from the police. You must also be confirmed by your local traditional ruler that you are who you are,” he explained.
Nwoko emphasized that only qualified individuals would be permitted to carry firearms under his proposed plan.
