The Founder of Living Waters Unlimited, Rev. Ladi Thompson, has advocated for a responsible gun culture to combat insurgents and stem the tide of insecurity in Nigeria.
He made the suggestion during an online chat with a journalist Adeola Fayehun, during which he also alleged that the government is backing terrorists against defenseless Nigerians.
Thompson, who is also a security consultant, said that from his experience, the state has been supporting terrorists against innocent citizens by preventing people from defending themselves while the terrorists maintain unchecked access to ammunition.
He recalled a past situation in Kano during which a mob attempted to attack residents of Southern origin living in the city. “When the people were coming and chanting ‘Allahu Akbar’ with machetes and guns, they were met with a volley of firepower from the Southerners they wanted to attack. They had to take to their heels,” Thompson recalled.
However, he noted that the following day, “the Commissioner of Police asked everyone who had firearms to come and submit them to the police. So, the complicity of the government is nothing new. We have known this for many years from our field experience.”
Thompson implied further that the Kano example was a clear indication that the government is not interested in citizens protecting themselves. He argued that if every family were allowed to bear firearms, the madness of people being killed indiscriminately would stop.
While stating that he would not have advocated for such measures in the past, he said the time has come to change approaches to the lingering insecurity in the country.
He said, “We need a responsible gun culture. We must make a proposal for it. The younger generation needs to create a responsible framework to make a proposal both locally and globally. Africans are not inherently violent people. But what can you do with a government that arms terrorists to kill civilians?”
Rev. Thompson added that preparing for another election should not be the primary concern right now. “We don’t need any election in Nigeria until the security situation is resolved,” he stated.