Northern Group  Call Gov.  Matawalle  Over Arms  Self-defense

By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna.

The  Concerned Northern Forum (CNF) call on the Executive Governor of Zamfara state Dr Bello Matawalle  to re-examine his recent position over Arms for self-defense.

In a Press statement which is signed by it's Chairman and Spoke Person, Mallam Ibrahim Bature  and Abdulsalam Mohammed kazeem and   issue to Newsmen in Kaduna.

The Northern group further explain" We are not against self defence but; We can't Support the decision directing civilians to bear arm themselves, because We are all witness to the inabilities of developed countries with accurate data's at all levels with such policies and their inabilities to stop the consequences of gun violence.

"We as a Forum and one of the leading voice of our region sympathise with the Government and people of Zamfara state over the current spate of insecurity and the untold hardship the said situation caused them despite their loyalty to constituted authorities.

"Arms bearing is an economic tools in the hands of citizens against others, and that may lead to more abuses, as such; we are of the opinion that the decision is timely considering demography of those involved.

"According to Fire Arms Act, private citizens are only licenced to acquire Pump Action and Short guns, so how can a farmer in Zamfara state defend him self against a terrorists with GPMG, Anti- Aircraft and AK 47? who will train the farmers after acquiring such Arms, what is the capacity of our training ranges nation wide and who will be responsible for the training?, And at what point will Zamfara state Government retrieve back all the said Guns licensed to them?  These are too me questions begging for answers.

"Though we are aware that the Governor is only trying to score a cheap Political point, we appeal to him to face governance squarely with all sincerity of purpose and accept responsibility at any rate, the era of chasing shadows is over, by the way he those not even have the right in the first place to direct the state CP to give interested citizens license because the police is a Federal agent and they are not answerable to him under section 214 of the 1999 constitution.

"We salute his courage for his decisive actions on the closures of some market, ban & sale of petroleum products in gerecans and complete ban of motor circles, we are of the opinion that the said ban will not see the light of the day without strong, visible and motivated enforcement team in place.

The group " appeal to federal government to deploy more security personnel to Zamfara state, to empower Local vigilant group as will believe it will help in Local intelligence gathering and our security agencies should be properly empowered; which I'm return will bring about efficiency, effectiveness and timely results that will stand challenge of time.