The MBF said that the directive from COAS was not in the overall interest of the people, stressing that it is time for Nigerians to carry higher grades of arms to defend themselves.
The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has countered the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, who had claimed that Nigerians should not be allowed to carry arms despite the rising attacks and killings in the country.
The MBF said that the directive from COAS was not in the overall interest of the people, stressing that it is time for Nigerians to carry higher grades of arms to defend themselves.
The National President of the MBF, Dr. Bitrus Pogu, in a statement issued on Monday, insisted that any order restraining Nigerians from carrying some form of arms to defend themselves while marauders move about with sophisticated weapons with which they kill Nigerians with impunity, will amount to a conspiracy against the people.
According to Pogu, there should be a rethink of that statement since the security agencies had not been able to adequately protect Nigerians from the marauders.
“I completely disagree because the security agencies are not adequately protecting Nigerians as Nigerians are being killed like Chickens.
“Before now, Nigerians were allowed to carry some category of arms which are not up to the military grade. And if they have such arms, at least they can protect themselves.
“But when you have people (criminals) in the bushes with sophisticated weapons and their location is known and yet they are left there; even areas are left for them; and yet they want Nigerians to stay as chickens to be killed by these criminals. It means there is collusion to have Nigerians killed.
“Nigerians should be allowed to carry at least some arms to defend themselves. Before now we had some category of arms, short guns and so on, which were allowed.
“This should be allowed and should remain allowed. Anything short of that means there is a conspiracy against Nigerians.
“Whoever made that statement should go and have a rethink. Already there are categories of arms allowed for Nigerians and it should not be stopped. In fact Nigerians should have higher level of arms to defend themselves because it has been proven that security agencies have not been able to protect Nigerians,” the MBF boss said.