VIDEO: Nigerians have right to defend themselves against attackers — Tinubu’s spokesman

Daniel Bwala, the Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Policy Communication, has stated that Nigerians are constitutionally allowed to defend themselves when faced with attacks, including situations involving life-threatening danger.

Bwala made the remarks during a live interview on Arise Television on Wednesday, where he spoke on the growing insecurity concerns across the country.

His comments followed recent attacks in the Ahoro-Esinele community in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State where teachers and students were abducted from three schools and one subsequently killed by the kidnappers.

According to him, the Nigerian Constitution provides citizens with the right to self-defence.

“The constitution has guaranteed to every citizen of Nigeria the right to self-defence; you have the right to defend yourself,” he said.

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“When your right, my right, and that of my neighbour is put together, it becomes collective rights to defend ourselves and Nigerians have the right to defend themselves.

“If you come to my house to try to kill me, any lethal weapon I use to defend myself is guaranteed by the Constitution,” he added.

Bwala, however, clarified that the possession and use of firearms remain subject to legal regulation.

He stated: “Nigerians don’t have the right to bear certain arms unless those arms are permitted but the collective people can come together to apply to the government for the right to coordinate themselves.”

Speaking on the broader insecurity challenge, Bwala described crime as a global problem that requires cooperation between the government and citizens to tackle effectively.

“Solution is what we all look to; evil men operate anywhere in the world, no matter how tight you are as a government.

“You do your best and expect that with the help of God and collective participation of the people through collective intelligence, we will be able to put an end to it,” he said.

He added that public frustration over repeated attacks is understandable, noting that citizens will continue to react emotionally to such incidents.

“I know the Nigerian people will continue to complain. For example, no matter how we say that we are sorry and the incident happens again, people will complain, cry and mourn because it’s the lives of the Nigerian people that are taken away by the evil element. We will put an end to this as a people,” he said.

Bwala also suggested that insecurity tends to rise around election periods, citing what he described as a “crisis economy” exploited by certain individuals.

“Every eve of elections in Nigeria from 2014, 2018, 2022, and now 2026, you will see that crisis increases because of the idea of a crisis economy. A lot of people take advantage of that but the will and spirit of the collective people is what will put an end to this situation,” he said.

He further referenced the role of community-based security efforts, including vigilante groups assisting law enforcement agencies.

“As a people, we have vigilantes, and in Borno State, we have paramilitary organisations that provide intelligence to law enforcement,” he said.