SURRENDER YOUR GUN AND BE KILLED

By Livingrich Ezeikpe (Abia Writers)
Edited by Livingrich Ezeikpe
The rather shocking order by the Nigerian Inspector General of police, that owners of gun should surrender them to the police irrespective of whether Licensed or not, has raised uncountable questions in the hearts of many people in the country as to why such order will be issued amidst the series of killings of innocents by the Fulani Herdsmen in virtually every part of the country.

From reliable sources within the country, several groups, including, Common citizens association; concern people's groups; Awakened people's parliament, etc have questioned the rationale behind that order, and demanded to know the rationale behind asking licensed gun owners to surrender them while Fulani herdsmen who are not in any way licensed are carrying gun about freely and causing mayhem in the country with them without the IG asking them to surrender their unlicensed guns.

According to the spokesman of CCA, "the evil agenda behind asking legitimate gun owners in the land to surrender their guns in the face of cruel challenges from Fulani herdsmen, is yet to unfold"; "but it would be ridiculous if anyone would heed that order", he concluded. Gun owners in the south of Nigeria and in the East of the country especially, where it is believed is the target of the order, have been cautioned against paying heed to that order, but should they want to surrender their guns, should carefully consider the following:

In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control. From 1929 to 1953, about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated; in 1911, Turkey established gun control laws. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenian Christians were slaughtered and their cities now Muslim dominated while their churches were converted to Mosques; Germany established gun control in 1938 and from 1939 to 1945, a total of 13 million Jews and others who were unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.

Cambodia established gun control in 1956. From 1975 to 1977, one million educated people unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated; 56 million defenceless people rounded up and exterminated in the 20th Century because of gun control. A few of the groups unveiling their minds on the issue were of the unequivocal belief that "Guns in the hands of honest citizens save lives and property".

They were also of the opinion that "gun-control laws adversely affect only the law-abiding citizens". Research carried out recently by Young Researchers International Association (YIRA)showed that the US has never implemented a gun control because they feel leaving guns in the hands of responsible people in the state keeps them safe from any invasion. It is revealed that Switzerland gives every household a gun, and at the same time trains every adult on weapon handling yet that country has the lowest gun related crime rate of any civilized country world over.

It is doubtful why Nigerian government wants to disarm the innocent citizens whose guns have been a source of security for lives and property in the country. Notably, a cross-section of people listened to were of the opinion that "the Buhari-Fulani dominated Security Council want to destroy your self-defence, empower their kinsmen to come in and take over your lands, colonize your towns and villages, and finally carry out fully their Islamization agenda". Consequently, a concerned citizen has warned, "Take note my fellow Nigerians, before it's too late! The next time someone talks in favour of gun control, please remind him or her that with guns, we are "citizens". Without them, we are "subjects". Some Nigerians believe that "It's time to speak loud before they try to silence and disarm us".

Someone who pleaded anonymity alerted, "You're not imagining it, history shows that governments always manipulate tragedies to attempt to disarm the people". According to him, "They went from house to house in Benue state, under an amnesty program that a short-sighted Governor Ortom was encouraged by the FG to embark upon moping up guns from the locals and the vigilantes responsible for community security, few weeks later the Fulani herdsmen came in and slaughtered hundreds burnt down their houses and farm products without any resistance".

He warned, "Nigerians, think! That command to surrender your guns (if you have any) will leave you defenceless when the time comes, the military and the police won't be around to protect you". "Why are they not mopping up weapons from Fulani Herdsmen, who possess more sophisticated weapons and AK47s than any other group in this country and they roam around with it killing people at will". He noted, "This is another war going on in Nigeria, arm yourselves and be safe" or Surrender your guns and be killed.

It would be recalled that the killings and destruction of virtually everything by Fulani herdsmen was predicted by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, before now, but it was taken by many people to be the words of a drunk though there was no record showing him to be of such stock. If his warnings were taken seriously. strategic measures would have been put in place to avert the present dilemma! But from all indications, putting a measure in place to checkmate the menace appears a mission impossible now, and the only seeming solution is for everyone to be on guard against these bloodthirsty groups. This is a task that cannot be done empty handed.