'Go and Buy AK-47' — Zamfara Lawmaker Tells Constituents to Arm Themselves as Insecurity Worsens

Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.

In a stark indication of the deepening security crisis in Nigeria's North-West, a member of the House of Representatives representing Maru/Bungudu Federal Constituency in Zamfara State, Honourable Abdulmalik Zubairu, has publicly urged his constituents to take out their money and buy weapons for self-defence against persistent bandit attacks. Zubairu, also known as Zannan Bungudu, made the extraordinary call on Monday, July 27, 2026, advising residents to acquire whatever firearms they could find, including AK-47 rifles, to protect their communities from the unrelenting violence that has turned the region into a theatre of terror. The lawmaker's comments came as Zamfara State continues to grapple with a surge in banditry, mass abductions, and killings that have overwhelmed the capacity of security agencies.

The Zamfara lawmaker's remarks reflect a growing sense of abandonment among residents of the North-West, where bandits have attacked villages, killed residents, abducted travellers, and disrupted farming activities despite repeated military operations and government assurances. Zamfara, in particular, has been one of the hardest-hit states, with communities in Maru, Bungudu, Kaura Namoda, and Talata Mafara local government areas suffering repeated deadly raids. Just last week, bandits killed at least 23 farmers in coordinated attacks on farming communities in Talata Mafara, while in Bungudu LGA, gunmen stormed the residence of the council chairman, killing four security personnel and abducting him. The lawmaker's advice to arm civilians underscores the desperation of communities that feel they have been left to fend for themselves by the government.

Zubairu's comments have sparked widespread debate, with some questioning the legality and wisdom of encouraging civilians to acquire automatic weapons while others have expressed sympathy for constituents who feel abandoned by the state. The call also raises profound questions about the erosion of public confidence in the government's ability to provide security. If a lawmaker in the National Assembly is openly telling his people to buy rifles for self-defence, it suggests that the state has lost the trust of its citizens and that communities are being forced to take matters into their own hands. The situation in Zamfara and other parts of the North-West has been worsened by a combination of factors, including the proliferation of small arms, the vast forest cover that provides hideouts for bandits, and the limited capacity of security forces to protect vulnerable communities.

The Nigerian government has consistently maintained that it is committed to ending banditry and terrorism in the North-West and has deployed troops under Operation FANSAN YAMMA to the region. However, the frequency and intensity of attacks have continued to escalate, raising doubts about the effectiveness of the military strategy. The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has ordered intensified military operations in response to the attacks, directing troops to adopt surgical operations without mercy to eliminate terrorist networks. But for the people of Maru and Bungudu, these assurances have not translated into safety, and the lawmaker's advice reflects a grim reality: when the state cannot protect its citizens, they must protect themselves.

The Nigeria Police Force has not commented on the lawmaker's remarks, and it remains unclear whether Zubairu's comments will attract any official rebuke. However, the incident has reignited debate about the government's responsibility to protect citizens and the consequences of its failure to do so. As insecurity continues to worsen in Zamfara and other parts of the North-West, the call for civilians to arm themselves is a troubling sign that the social contract between the state and its citizens is fraying. If the government cannot protect its people, it risks losing their confidence and their cooperation, further complicating efforts to restore peace and stability in the region. For the residents of Maru and Bungudu, the lawmaker's words may have been practical advice born of desperation, but they are also a damning indictment of the state's failure to fulfil its most fundamental responsibility.

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