The governor of Niger State announced that his government will no longer negotiate with bandits or pay ransoms. Instead, he urged residents to be prepared to defend themselves against attacks. He made this statement while visiting communities recently struck by banditry.

Telling citizens to defend themselves should not invite vigilantism. It should mean staying alert, reducing risk, reporting threats quickly, and working in a lawful, organised way with security agencies. 

Communities can build early-warning systems, agree on safe routines, and keep clear contact lines with the nearest police division. The goal is to prevent attacks where possible and help authorities respond faster when they occur.

Should citizens be given weapons?

Broadly arming civilians is risky and often unlawful. Firearms in Nigeria are strictly regulated, and putting guns in many untrained hands can lead to accidents, theft, revenge cycles, and more crime. 

In most cases, weapons do not make communities safer; they raise the stakes and increase harm. Citizens are better protected by smart prevention, fast reporting, and visible, professional security patrols.

Should the government arm communities?

If the state chooses any community-based security, it must be fully legal, vetted, trained, supervised, and accountable. That means formal structures, clear rules of engagement, human-rights training, and discipline when rules are broken. 

Even then, emphasis should be on non-lethal tools and protection,radios, lighting, alarms, trackers, community CCTV, drones for spotting, and safe-room measures,rather than guns.

Will training help citizens defend themselves?

Yes, the right training saves lives. Practical drills on what to do during an attack, clear communication plans, and basic first aid help people act calmly under stress. 

Households can improve security with simple steps such as better lighting, trimmed hedges, stronger doors, and clearly marked addresses that make emergency response faster. Training should also cover how to record and report incidents safely so evidence is useful to investigators.

Where do the police and military come in?

The duty to protect rests with the state. The police should lead with intelligence-led patrols, rapid response units, reliable hotlines, and regular community policing meetings.

The military should step in when threats exceed normal policing, clearing bandit camps, securing forests and highways, and backing the police during high-risk operations. 

Civil Defence and local authorities should protect key infrastructure, make markets and schools safer, and coordinate farming escorts where needed. Stronger response times, proper investigations, and real support for victims, medical care, counselling, and compensation are essential.

What citizens can do lawfully right now

Communities can hold security meetings with the police or Civil Defence to set contact persons, call trees, and patrol times. They can create early-warning signals with sirens or whistles, agree on safe houses and escape routes, and improve property security with solar lights and visible house numbers. 

People should vary travel routines, move in groups when possible, and always tell someone before long trips. Every threat or incident should be recorded and reported through official channels to help build solid cases.