Sokoto residents beg FG to allow them carry arms as bandit attacks escalate

As relentless assaults by suspected Lakurawa bandits continue to ravage parts of Sokoto State, residents of Kebbe Local Government Area have appealed to the Federal Government to grant them permission to carry arms for self-defence.

Speaking during a press conference at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Secretariat in Sokoto on Saturday, the distressed community members said they could no longer endure the constant killings and destruction of their homes and farmlands.

Led by Adamu Kebbe, the group accused both the state and local governments of neglecting their responsibility to protect lives, alleging that official responses have been slow and ineffective.

“We can’t sleep with our two eyes closed anymore. Our communities are being wiped out, and the government is doing little to protect us,” Haruna said emotionally.

The residents further appealed for direct federal funding to local councils to strengthen community security outfits and enable rapid responses to attacks.

Sokoto State has remained one of the epicentres of banditry in northern Nigeria, with violent groups such as the Lakurawas and the faction led by notorious bandit kingpin Bello Turji terrorising Isa, Sabon Birni, and Kebbe LGAs.

Although the state government has acknowledged the growing insecurity, locals insist that its interventions have not been sufficient to ensure safety.

Security analysts have noted that the community’s plea underscores deep frustration with state protection and signals a dangerous erosion of public confidence in government institutions.

“If we can’t get protection from the government, then we must be allowed to protect ourselves,” another resident declared.