By Joel Oladele, Abuja and Nicholas Dekera, Kaduna

The Arewa Grassroot Leaders Assembly (AGLA) and Catholic Bishop of Kaduna Archdiocese, Archbishop Mathew Manoso-Ndagoso have added their voice to growing calls for citizens in Northern Nigeria to be legally empowered to defend themselves against rising insecurity, particularly in rural communities ravaged by banditry and violence.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja yesterday, the AGLA President, Collins Onogu called on the government to legalise the possession of AK-47s for self-defence in rural communities. He also urged the Federal Government to deploy more security personnel to the affected areas and establish a task force to investigate and apprehend perpetrators.“This is a grim reminder of the security challenges facing our nation.“We demand that the government legalise the possession of AK-47s for self-defence in rural communities, with proper monitoring and regulation.“We propose that the government support community-led security initiatives, including community vigilante groups and neighbourhood watches.“AGLA will continue to monitor the situation and hold the government accountable for the safety and security of our people. We demand action, not rhetoric. The government must act now,” he said.Onogu’s remarks echo recent comments by retired General T.Y. Danjuma, who last week in Taraba State reiterated his long-standing call for communities to defend themselves against armed attackers, noting that the killings which prompted his warning years ago have only worsened.While some Nigerians, including former Youth and Sports Minister Solomon Dalung, have backed such calls, others have warned of the dangers.Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi described the idea of widespread self-defence as a potential trigger for anarchy, cautioning that it could worsen inter-communal tensions, especially between farmers and herders.Nevertheless, AGLA insists that decisive and immediate action is needed to prevent further bloodshed.“We demand action, not rhetoric. The government must act now,” Onogu said, adding that empowering local communities through regulated self-defence and vigilante groups could be key in reclaiming security and restoring hope in the region.Catholic Bishop backs Plateau Governor, T.Y Danjuma, others over self defenseCatholic Bishop of Kaduna Archdiocese Archbishop Mathew Manoso-Ndagoso yesterday, also threw his weight behind Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, General T.Y Danjuma and so many others who have been calling for self-defense as banditry invasion of communities persist.Speaking at the opening of the 2025 Pastoral Council/General Assembly of the Kaduna Catholic Archdiocese, Archbishop Mathew Manoso-Ndagoso said “there are a lot of communities under siege and the killing seems to have continued unabated, what will the communities do, should they sit back and watch while the bandits kill, no, they need to help themselves by organizing themselves in terms of useful information sharing, consistent patrol in their localities.Mutfwang of Plateau has called for this, General T.Y Danjuma has also reiterated this several times and I think this is the time for villagers to mobilize and help them themselves.”Ndagoso maintained that “nothing has significantly changed because banditry, insurgency, kidnappings for ransom, very high cost of living, hunger, multi-dimensional poverty are all on the increase. We are still high up on the poverty index. The renewed hope agenda of the government at the centre is yet to produce the desired result. More and more of our compatriots seem to be joining the league of those living below the poverty line.”Our country is still among countries leading the world with the largest concentration of the poorest of the poor, namely, people living below the poverty line. In point of fact recent International Monetary Fund IMF) and World reports suggest that many more Nigerians will join the ranks of those living below the poverty line by 2027. We are a people of hope. We will continue to give the government the benefit of the doubt since they repeatedly tell us that there is light at the end of the tunnel.” Ndagoso stressed.He stated that “though the situation of insecurity persisted, we took the bold decision to restart the minor seminary at the beginning of the 2023/24 academic year using the convent in Katari town near the parish house. I am happy to inform you that significant progress has been made. As I speak, we have a total number of 106 students in GSS 1, 2 and 3 and SS1. They live in the convent in Katari and attend classes in the seminary.Using the proceeds of 2024 cathedraticum we were able renovate and reconstruct all the classrooms and the admin block and put together other essential amenities. The students and staff commute each working day to the seminary for classes. We hope to admit more students to various classes at the beginning of next academic year. Our hope is that if the security situation improves, we shall use the proceeds of this year’s cathedraticum to build a hostel block and renovate other essential structures. I am grateful to the priests and faithful of Dogon Kurmi and Gujeni Deaneries for their continued support without which we could not have started in the first place.”He commended the creative and proactive leadership of the outgoing leaders of the Laity Council in the Archdiocese saying through their visionary leadership much has happened in the Council. Good legacies have been passed on. He said the report of the Council shows a sure and healthy growth with normal activities of the council carried out.”In spite of the challenges during the year under review, we had a total of 10,343 baptisms, 7,149 first Holy Communions, 2,550 Confirmations and 941 marriages out of which 756 were between Catholics and 185 between Catholics and non-Catholics,” Archbishop Ndagoso stressed.