Illegal Raids: Nigerians Must Demand Liberalisation of Gun Rights, Protect Themselves, Says Activist

A Nigerian Activist, Raphael Adebayo, has urged Nigerians to demand the liberalisation of gun rights to protect themselves from rogue officials conducting illegal raids, as well as other criminals terrorising Nigerians.

Adebayo’s appeal to Nigerians comes on the heels of the disturbing rise in the random and illegal midnight raids on the homes of Southern Nigerian youths. Despite several announcements by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, banning “sting operations” at night. Adebayo deplored how rogue EFCC officials have “continued to carry out night raids, terrorising, traumatising, and criminalising law-abiding citizens.”

He argued that, “Such reckless behaviour is only possible because the hostile rogues know that the vast majority of citizens are not constitutionally empowered to defend themselves. Under different circumstances, the assailants would act more cautiously.”

It has been reported that on January 17, 2025, officials of the EFCC, including one Aminu Salisu, climbed and breached the fence of a residential building in Awka, Anambra State, at midnight to carry out an illegal raid on the young residents of the building without properly identifying themselves. During the illegal sting operation, Salisu was allegedly shot and killed by one Joshua Chukwubueze Ikechukwu, a resident who is believed to have acted in self-defence to protect himself and his family members from the unidentified invaders of the compound.

On January 19, 2025, a Director of the Anti-Arms Smuggling of the Social Orientation and Safety Corps, Yomi Adetula, was assassinated by gunmen in Ogun State during a church service on Sunday, 19 January 2025. He was one of the witnesses in a libel case that was brought against the Foundation for Investigative Journalism for their investigation into smuggling activities at Nigerian borders. Adebayo condemned Adetula’s assassination and described it as “unfortunate,” adding that “hopefully, we can better empower citizens to prevent such crimes in the future.”

Adebayo admonished that, “We must continue to fight corruption and crime through constitutional means. Nigerians must not waste the opportunity of this momentum to fight for a saner society. The right to self-defence is a fundamental right, and Nigerian youths must be ready to defend themselves against all violent threats to their security and safety.”

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