Former Lagos governorship candidate Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour has urged the federal government to begin licensing firearms for citizens, arguing that Nigerians must be empowered to defend themselves amid escalating insecurity. Rhodes-Vivour, who recently defected to the African Democratic Congress, said the government’s inability to protect lives has made self-defence a necessary national conversation.

Speaking on the rising wave of violent attacks, he noted that insecurity is no longer confined to the northern region, stressing that recent abductions in Kwara and Ogun highlight the growing vulnerability across the country. According to him, communities are becoming unprotected targets, and citizens should not be left at the mercy of terrorists and kidnappers.

Rhodes-Vivour maintained that licensing responsible civilians to carry firearms could serve as a deterrent to attackers and reduce the scale of mass abductions. With security challenges worsening and public frustration deepening, is Nigeria ready to embrace a controversial shift toward civilian-led self-defence? Visit www.jocomms.com for more news