You don’t have power – Irabor Tell Matawalle For Asking Residents Pick up Arms 

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.