Self-defense: Yoruba council urges Southwest govs to emulate Matawalle

The council of the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland has called on the governors of South-West Nigeria to emulate the recent decision of the Zamfara State governor, Bello Matawalle in tackling terrorism in his state.

Matawalle had approved gun licenses for all citizens as self-defense against the bandits terrorizing the state.

This is coming after a series of attacks meted Zamfara people in recent years, with hundreds killed, kidnapped or wounded.

Reacting to Matawalle’s decision, the Gbonka Aare-Onakakanfo, Gboyega Adejumo urged South-West governors to take a cue from Zamfara in order to keep their states safe.

The Yoruba chiefs warned them to stop tolerating the activities of terrorists “masquerading as bandits and kidnappers, killing innocent people at will”.

They noted that Zamfara Governor, Bello Matawalle has “literally opened the eyes of other governors across the country”.

“Taking up arms in self-defence is a global practice that should be encouraged, once it is backed by the law.”

“There’s nothing bad if citizens take up arms to defend themselves”, the statement read.

The council however lauded the Lagos government on the ban on commercial (Okada) riders in some parts of the state.

The chiefs urged South-West governors to ensure the South West Security Stakeholders Group (SSSG) and the Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun) close ties to further secure the region.