The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor, has
faulted the call by Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State to people of the
state to bear arms to defend themselves against bandits.
Irabor said the call was not right, as the armed forces and
other security agencies were there to handle the challenges, adding that Matawalle
does not have the power to instruct the Commissioner of Police to issue
licenses.
He spoke to newsmen on the matter at the opening of the
Joint Exercise for the National Defence College and War Colleges of the Armed
Forces of Nigeria, code-named “Exercise Grand Nationale,” in Abuja.
Irabor said he was yet to understand the basis for asking
the citizens of Zamfara to bear arms.
He, however, said it was the responsibility of the Attorney
General of the Federation to look at the constitution and the laws to see
whether the governor had such powers.
“I believe that, in my view, it is not the right way to go.
“Of course, there are actions that members of the security
agencies and the armed forces, in particular, the police and other security
agencies, are doing to address insecurity in Zamfara and environs.
“Beyond that, of course, there are other legal issues, other
issues of governance, issues that the government could have addressed using the
instrumentality of the law that are available for him to bring greater peace
and security.
“But like I said, I do not intend to say much about it, but
I believe that the Federal Government, using the Attorney General, will look at
the details of that press release and give further instruction.
“If what I read is true, I do not also think that the
governor has the power to instruct the commissioner of police to issue
licenses, because the commissioner of police does not have the powers to issue
licenses.”
Irabor said the armed forces was only an instrument of
policy implementation, adding that it did not take instructions from state
governments.
He said the constitution gave rights and powers only to the
Commander-in-Chief for the use of the armed forces.
“I believe that what we are doing in Zamfara and of course,
across the states of the federation, is in deference to the provisions of the
constitution.
“So, we are there because we are there to give support to
the civil authority, in this case, the police.
“We do not need to restate what the issues are that have led to the deployment of military across the country but then, like I said, we are doing the very best to ensure that peace returns to every part of the country,” he said.
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