Nigerian Emir Urges Communities to Buy Weapons for Self‑Defense as Bandit Violence Escalates

An influential traditional ruler in northwestern Nigeria’s Kebbi state has called on residents to pool money and purchase weapons to defend themselves against increasingly deadly attacks by criminal gangs.

In a five‑minute online video verified by AFP, Samaila Muhammad Mera, the Emir of Argungu, urged dozens of local chiefs to take security into their own hands, saying the government was “overwhelmed” by the scale of violence.

Parts of Kebbi have endured years of sporadic assaults by armed groups including non‑ideological criminal gangs known locally as bandits, who kidnap travelers, raid villages, loot homes and burn entire communities. Analysts say the emergence of the Lakurawa jihadist faction, aligned with extremist groups in the wider Sahel, has further intensified the bloodshed. These extremist groups have been responsible for severe harm, loss of life and human rights violations across the region.

“The government is overwhelmed, you should use the weapons to protect your homes and property from attacks,” Mera told community leaders during the meeting.

Although Nigeria’s hundreds of traditional rulers hold no constitutional authority and rely on state governments for funding, they remain powerful cultural figures whose words carry enormous influence among their people. The emir’s remarks reflect growing frustration in rural communities where security forces are stretched thin and attacks continue unabated.

The call for community‑funded weapons underscores the deepening security crisis in northwestern Nigeria a region where residents increasingly feel abandoned and vulnerable as armed groups expand their reach.