Days after the Niger Delta Militants threatened to declare Niger Delta Republic on June !st, President Muhammadu Buhari signs an executive order to remove, revoke, banish all firearm or shotgun certificate or license in Nigeria.
The order takes effect from June 1st, the day the Niger Delta Militants are threatening to declare their Republic.
With this, no body in Nigeria is allowed to carry prohibited or licensed weapon in the country.
Though it is not clear whether the order was targeted at the Militants, it appears that the order is a blanket one, which will automatically make their activities difficult. Only the Military and the police, this Magazine gathered, are expected to carry firearms. Even the Civil Defense are not allowed to carry arms.
But reactions on Social media over the executive order was rather anger and condemnation.
“Is Buhari Evil Or Ignorant?”, says Chidi Calli, a well Known Social Commentator and Itinerant Buhari critic. “Why Disarm Nigerians and Allowing Herdsmen, Militias, Boko Haram to Keep Their Weapons?
Is There plans to Destroy M/Belt & The South?”
Is There plans to Destroy M/Belt & The South?”
It will be recalled that the security situation in the country has worsened in recent times with bandits and Boko Haram trying to outdo themselves in killings and abductions. They reportedly brandish the latest weaponry, including the notorious AK 47 assault rifles. Only recently, the Police paraded some kidnappers with sophisticated weapons in Zamfara state.
Nnanna Ehiribe, in his own reaction, said that Buhari is disarming the south and Middle belt for the bandits and Boko Haram to have a field day.
“Executive order; ‘all firearms licences revoked’. Disarm the (Middle) belt and South for Boko Haram, Fulani Herdsmen & ISIS to finish”, he wrote.
There has been allegations of Islamic State has infiltrated Boko Haram, and using them for their expansion in the West African sub region.
