IGP OPPOSES CALLS FOR MASS CIVILIAN ARMING, SAYS WEAPONS NOT THE ANSWER TO INSECURITY

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has strongly opposed recent calls by civil groups and some political voices advocating for the arming of civilians to counter rising insecurity in the country. Speaking at the second Nigeria Democracy Week in Abuja, organized by the National Democracy Stakeholders Group (NDSG), the IGP—represented by FCT Police Commissioner Ajao Adewale—warned that such proposals could plunge Nigeria into deeper chaos.
“Weapons are not the solution,” Egbetokun stated. “You solve violence by advocating peace, dialogue, and building understanding among communities. Arming civilians will only increase the complexity of our insecurity.”
He rejected claims of police collusion in electoral malpractice, saying the force maintains neutrality during elections. “We’re not partisans. Our role is limited to security provision during elections. We don’t vote, and we don’t count,” he said, stressing the importance of inter-agency collaboration and the continuous retraining of officers to maintain credibility in electoral processes.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Senator George Akume, represented by Nadungu Gagare, added that Nigeria’s ongoing governance reforms under President Tinubu are crucial for democratic resilience. “Democratic resilience means our systems must be able to withstand shocks while still delivering for the people,” Akume said.
Dr. Kletsaint Akor, chairman of NDSG, called for deeper electoral reforms, including INEC’s financial independence, transparent commissioner appointments, and strict penalties for malpractice, emphasizing that governance must be rooted in electoral legitimacy.