Communities in Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State have urged the Federal Government to authorize them to possess sophisticated weapons for self-defence, following a wave of violent assaults by suspected Lakurawa bandits.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Secretariat in Sokoto, community leaders said they have been left at the mercy of criminal gangs, accusing both state and local authorities of failing to protect them.
Alhaji Adamu Kebbe, who led the delegation, decried the worsening insecurity, stressing that families are being displaced, farmlands destroyed, and lives lost almost daily. Another resident, Haruna, lamented that “we can no longer sleep peacefully at night; our communities are being wiped out while government efforts remain inadequate.”
The residents also demanded that the Federal Government grant direct allocations to local governments to help strengthen local vigilantes and improve emergency response during attacks.
Sokoto has become one of the epicentres of banditry in Nigeria, with criminal groups such as the Lakurawas and notorious warlord Bello Turji wreaking havoc in Isa, Sabon Birni, and Kebbe. Despite measures announced by the state government, locals argue that the interventions have been insufficient.
Security analysts warn that the residents’ insistence on arming themselves reflects a growing collapse of trust in government protection. They note that unless decisive action is taken by federal authorities, more communities may resort to self-help.
This is not the first time Sokoto residents have voiced such frustrations. In September, youths in Shagari Local Government Area threatened to take up arms in response to persistent kidnappings and attacks that have crippled farming and local trade. Former Governor Aminu Tambuwal also recently called on the Federal Government to reinforce security in the state.
The insecurity has further triggered humanitarian crises, with displaced families facing harsh conditions, including a cholera outbreak in some camps.
For now, Kebbe residents say they have only one option if government protection fails: “If the authorities cannot defend us, then we must be allowed to defend ourselves.”
