Presidential spokesman Daniel Bwala has said Nigerians have a constitutional right to defend themselves against attackers amid rising insecurity and deadly attacks across the country.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday, Bwala reacted to recent killings in Oyo State and the abduction of teachers and pupils, insisting that self-defence is guaranteed under Nigerian law.
“The constitution has guaranteed to every citizen of Nigeria the right to self-defence; you have the right to defend yourself,” he said.
According to him, Nigerians can lawfully protect themselves when faced with life-threatening attacks.
“If you come to my house to try to kill me, any lethal weapon I use to defend myself is guaranteed by the Constitution,” Bwala added.
He, however, clarified that firearm ownership remains regulated, noting that citizens cannot freely possess prohibited weapons without government approval.
“Nigerians don’t have the right to bear certain arms unless those arms are permitted,” he explained.
The presidential aide also assured Nigerians that the Tinubu administration is working to tackle insecurity, stressing that crime remains a global challenge.
“Solution is what we all look to; evil men operate anywhere in the world, no matter how tight you are as a government,” he said.
Bwala acknowledged growing public frustration over recurring attacks, saying Nigerians have every right to express anger and grief whenever lives are lost.
“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,” he stated.
He further claimed that insecurity often increases during election periods, alleging that some individuals take advantage of what he described as a “crisis economy” ahead of elections.
“Every eve of elections in Nigeria… you will see that crisis increases,” Bwala said.
He also highlighted the importance of vigilante groups and intelligence sharing in supporting security agencies across the country.
