Ayuba Elkana, the commissioner of police for Zamfara state, stated that the ban on firearms licences remains in effect and that the police have ceased providing licences to citizens who seek to acquire firearms.
In response to questions concerning the state government’s mandate that the police command give gun licences to people entitled to bear arms, the police chief made this statement on Sunday.
In a statement released on Sunday, the Zamfara State Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Dosara, said that the government had instructed state people to prepare and acquire firearms to defend themselves against bandits who had been terrorising the state.
Therefore, the government ordered the state police commissioner to grant licences to all people who qualify and wish to acquire firearms for self-defense.
Dosara had said, “Government has, henceforth, directed individuals to prepare and obtain guns to defend themselves against the bandits, as the government has directed the state commissioner of police to issue a license to all those who qualify and are wishing to obtain such guns to defend themselves.
“Government is ready to facilitate people, especially our farmers, to secure basic weapons for defending themselves. The government has already concluded an arrangement to distribute 500 forms to each of the 19 emirates in the state for those willing to obtain guns to defend themselves.
“People must apply to the Commissioner of Police to own guns and such other basic weapons to be used in defending themselves. A secretariat or centre will be established for the collection of intelligence on the activities of informants.”
But reacting to the directive, the state commissioner of police said he has yet to receive any directive to issue gun licences to the people.
Elkana said, “I have not received any directives and also, there is a ban on firearms licence and we don’t give licence.
“I am yet to receive any directive. Let me see the directive first before I can comment. I have not seen the directive, so I cannot comment on compliance.”
Asked if the government’s decision was a vote of no confidence on the police, the CP replied, “There is nothing like vote of no confidence, please. This is farming season and you cannot get police or any security to be following everybody to the farm. They are attacking people on the farm; that is the problem. It is not as if we are not doing our best; we are doing our best. Of recent, we rescued many people (from bandits).”
The Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, declined comment on the matter when contacted.
