Arewa declares support for Buhari “Shoot on sight” Order

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has declared support for the directive issued by President Muhammadu Buhari for security agents to shoot anyone illegally carrying AK-47 guns in the country.

It was earlier reported that the president gave an order that whoever is found possessing an illegal AK-47 should be shot on sight.

The order was disclosed by President’s media assistant, Garba Shehu, during an interview with the BBC.

In his words: “The president has ordered security forces to go into the bushes and shoot whoever they see with sophisticated weapons like AK-47,”

“He ordered that whoever is seen with terrible weapons at all should be shot immediately.”

However, the Arewa consultative Forum in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Emmanuel Yawe said the directive is commendable as it is expected to further curb banditry and criminal activities in the country.

“Though only lawyers can interpret the legality of the President’s order, that the President ordered people to be shot without trial is a legal issue.

“But we agree that there is a need for the extreme measure to curb the spread of arms like AK-47.

“Some governors are even arguing that people should be allowed to carry AK-47 and that is not right. They want the country to dissolve into anarchy. It is not right for private individuals to carry AK-47, which is known all over the world as a very dangerous assault rifle.

“Nigeria is not at war, so why should people carry AK47 freely? Even Dane guns, you need a license to own it. In Nigeria, people just carry AK-47 freely and they kill people and nothing happens to them.

“The ACF welcomes the President’s order,” the ACF statement noted.