NEWS
“I Advise the People I Represent to Withdraw Their Money and Buy Guns for Self-Defence“ — Zamfara Lawmaker, Abdulmalik Zubairu Reveals, Speaks After Bandits Abduct LG Chairman
A member of the House of Representatives representing the Maru/Bungudu Federal Constituency in Zamfara State, Hon. Abdulmalik Zubairu, popularly known as Zannan Bungudu, has sparked widespread reactions after urging residents of his constituency to withdraw their savings and acquire weapons to defend themselves against persistent bandit attacks.
The lawmaker made the remarks during an interview with DCL Hausa on Sunday while reacting to the recent abduction of the Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area, Nura Abdullahi, and the killing of four members of his security team by armed bandits.
Expressing frustration over the worsening security situation, Zubairu called on residents to take proactive steps to protect their communities, arguing that many lives continue to be lost despite ongoing security efforts.
“I advise the people I represent to withdraw their money and buy guns for self-defence. Whatever they can afford, even if it is an AK-47, AK-49, or any other weapon, they should contribute money, get the weapons if they know where to buy them, and protect their communities,” he said.
The lawmaker acknowledged that his position runs contrary to the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution but maintained that the extraordinary security challenges facing communities require extraordinary measures.
“I know this is against the Constitution, but killing innocent people is also against the Constitution. If you are faced with two difficult situations that are both illegal, it is not bad if you choose one to save lives,” he said.
When asked whether his comments suggested a lack of confidence in the administrations of President Bola Tinubu and Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, Zubairu dismissed that interpretation, insisting that both governments are making efforts to combat insecurity.
According to him, while government security agencies continue their operations, citizens also have a responsibility to safeguard their communities.
“They are doing their best. That is why it is important for ordinary people to also defend themselves and protect their communities,” he said.
The federal lawmaker further argued that bandits do not outnumber the communities they attack, stressing that their advantage lies primarily in their access to superior firepower.
“The bandits are not more than the people. What gives them the upper hand is that they have better weapons. If the people also have weapons, they can defend themselves,” he said.
Zubairu also suggested that communities acquiring weapons for self-defence could work with security authorities by officially registering such firearms.
“The people can even go to the authorities and explain why they have the weapons. They can register them, stating that this weapon is in this person’s custody for the protection of this community. It is painful to continue watching innocent people being killed,” he added.
The controversial remarks came just a day after suspected bandits launched a deadly attack on the residence of the Bungudu Local Government Chairman, Nura Abdullahi, in the early hours of Saturday.
During the attack, the gunmen reportedly engaged the chairman’s security personnel in a fierce gun battle, killing four members of his security detail, including two police officers and two local vigilantes.
After overpowering the security team, the attackers abducted Abdullahi alongside his wife, children, and several other members of his family before taking them into a nearby forest, further highlighting the growing insecurity confronting communities in Zamfara State.