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As Nigeria grapples with escalating violence in several regions, Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi issued a stark warning on Monday, March 24, 2025, urging citizens to resist calls for self-defense and cautioning that such actions risk spiraling the nation into chaos.
Appearing on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Namadi directly addressed remarks by retired General Theophilus Danjuma, who recently encouraged Nigerians—particularly in the hard-hit states of Benue and Plateau—to take up arms against bandits and gunmen wreaking havoc.
Danjuma, a former defense minister, had argued that depending on government forces for safety is no longer viable, pointing to the relentless wave of bloodshed and attacks sweeping through communities as evidence of a broken security system.
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“It is now very clear that the government alone cannot protect us. We must stand up and defend ourselves, our families, and our lands before these criminals overrun the entire country,” Danjuma said during a public event in Takum, Taraba State, on Saturday.
But Governor Namadi rejected that approach, describing it as a dangerous path.
“He (T.Y. Danjuma) is a very senior security person, and his words deserve respect and analysis,” Namadi said. “But I think if you say citizens should be allowed to defend themselves, you’re causing anarchy. I don’t think we’ve reached that level yet.”
He argued that rather than encourage armed self-defence, the government at all levels must continue to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.
The governor stated that the government was making every effort to ensure security. He cautioned that permitting individuals to protect themselves would likely incite conflict between farmers and herders.
