A non-profit organisation, Save Katsina Group, on Sunday, August 22, 2021 says that there is nothing wrong with Governor Aminu Masari’s call on residents of bandit-prone areas in the state to arm and protect themselves.
The group of no fewer than 40 three organisations, declared that Masari’s call was in order and in line with the Constitution.
The spokesperson for the group, Hamza Saulawa, in a Press conference in Katsina said that the group aligned with the Governor’s call for various reasons, which included the fact that the call was in tandem with Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees self-defence for Nigerians.
“The call was also in line with Section 286 of the Nigerian Criminal Code, which says that if the nature of the assault is such as cause of reasonable apprehension of death or grievous harm and the person using force by way of defence believes on reasonable grounds that he cannot otherwise preserve the person defended from death or grievous harm, it is lawful for him to use any such force to the assailant as is necessary for defence, even though such force may cause death or grievous harm.
“The call is in line with islamic religious injunction (a religion of the great majority of people of Katsina State) which enjoins its adherents for self-defence, as well as to learn certain games, including how to operate weapons,” the group added.
Save Katsina Group said it opposed “any individual or group calling for the resignation of Governor Masari.”
Recall that Masari recently said that it is morally wrong for people to submit cheaply to the bandits without any attempt to defend themselves, according to a statement by his Media Aide, Malam Abdu Labaran.
The Governor said this during his visit to Jibia town to condole with the families of 10 people that were recently crushed by operatives of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) through reckless driving.
According to him, security is everybody’s business, pointing out that it is not the responsibility of the government alone.
The call has since generated controversies, with some people condemning it and demanding the governor’s resignation; while some expressed support for the call.
