President Muhammadu Buhari about a fortnight ago signed an executive order banning private ownership of some classes of weapons and even revoked licences issued to authorized persons. JOSHUA EGBODO writes.
What necessitated the order?
Nigeria had over the years been faced with a lot of security threats. With extremist insurgency in the north eastern part of the country to the spread of banditry across the north-west, and now the sustained kidnapping around the states, adding to the worries. The president would have been justified over any measure adopted to curtail the lingering threats.
To many social commentators, however, the president’s action may not be unconnected with a recent threat by the Niger Delta militants, who overtime have remained latent in violent agitation, that the Niger Delta Republic would be declared on June 1. Incidentally, the said executive order was intended to take effect same date.
A blanket order?
Experts have faulted the alleged order as being a blanket one, which in all estimation may even affect some security agencies like the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigeria Immigration Service, and other paramilitary bodies, which in some cases bear firearms. It was stated that with the order on the armed forces, the police are allowed to carry weapons.
Nigerians react
On the social media, the said order became an instant trending debate, with many condemning the move. Rather than mop up weapons off known Nigerians who were profiled and interviewed before licenses were granted, many were of the opinion that more of such should be offered to citizens.
In some extreme cases, President Buhari was accused of attempting to use the order to help the incursion of his ethnic Fulani herdsmen against helpless Nigerians, who have resorted to self-help due to the perceived collapse of the nation’s security system.
Reps got involved, want order reversed
Attention of the House of Representatives was last Thursday formally drawn to the controversial executive order, through a motion under matters of urgent public importance by the chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje, who prayed for resolution asking the president to rescind the move.
She said the order was tantamount to stripping citizens of their rights to life and self-defence amid growing threats from bandits, kidnappers and other violent crimes. Rather than going ahead with execution of the order, the house urged President Buhari to sign into law a bill to establish a commission against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.
Her motion
She stated in the motion that “The house notes with concern the rising spate of insecurity in our country. It is worried that the insecurity, which was hitherto confined to the north-east and the north-central states, has spread rapidly to the north-western states and all other parts of the country.
“It is, further, concerned that there is an increased number of deaths resulting from terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes. It notes that in response to the local and international outcry and concern for Nigeria’s security situation, Mr President signed an executive order to remove, revoke and banish all guns certificates and licences throughout the federation.
“It is concerned that this order targets illegal gun owners and their guns while there doesn’t seem to be any institutional actionable policy or plan to mop up small arms and light weapons that are at the centre of these crimes. It is convinced that the high number of illegal guns is responsible among others factors for the increase in crime.”
The lawmaker argued:
“Judging from the number of motions, there is a consensus that insecurity has become a national problem and that this executive order only targets legal guns and there is none to address those with illegal guns. There are no statistics to show that the crimes perpetrated by licensed guns outweigh the number of crimes committed by unlicenced guns”.
Others’ views
Speaking in support of the motion, Hon Edward Pwajok said the government make sure it does not “expose Nigerians to all forms of attacks”, as according to him, “criminals will not go for licences because that will expose them. I think he (Buhari) should rescind that order and do everything possible to mop up illegal guns.”
Also, Hon Abubakar Chika said: “The danger is that it will make all of us very vulnerable to attacks. We have communities where people with licensed guns provide security through vigilance services. That, to some extent, puts fear in the minds of hoodlums and secures the environment”.
In his own submissions, Hon Sunday Adepoju (APC Oyo) noted: “Majority of those who have licensed guns are well-to-do personalities. For instance, in a community where there are persons with legal guns, the moment hoodlums come close and they hear gunshots, they flee”.
Hon Simon Arabo argued: “You cannot use an executive order to override a lawfully acquired weapon. If most of the weapons are being used illegally, the security agencies should tackle that”.
Prof Mojeed Alabi, however, differed a little from his colleagues. According to him, “the police have no clear criteria for issuing a gun licence in Nigeria, except you want to give them money. People take guns without any procedure visible to all of us. If the police do not have full regulations guiding ownership or acquisition of guns, then I will advise that they (guns) be withdrawn. The procedure is wrong and because of that, the president is right to say they should withdraw them. Let them (police) come up with clear regulations”.
Order, a mere speculation?
While not totally disagreeing with the motion, Hon Munir Dangundi, who admitted to owning a licensed gun, however cautioned that his personal inquiries into the alleged executive order had proven that there may not be anything of such, urging the house to tarry a while, with a view to having the information confirmed.
“When I called the person who licensed me, he told me he is not aware of anything like that”. Questions are, therefore, being asked whether the said executive order was a product of rumour and mere speculations.
Presidency mum
Despite the controversies so far generated by the matter, the presidency appeared not budged to clear the air on whether the executive order is in existence, and if so, it’s justification.
However, majority of Nigerians seemed more disposed to the position taken by the House of Representatives that President Muhammadu Buhari, without delay, rescind the said executive order.
