Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has appealed to the National Assembly to make provisions for a law that would prescribe death sentence or life imprisonment for unlawful possession of arms in the country.
The Governor made this call in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Malam Muhammad Bello on Saturday.
Tambuwal, who was speaking based on the level of insecurity in the State, said that there were more small and light weapons in the hands of non-actors across the country than there are in the hands of security operatives.
“I am, therefore, appealing to the National Assembly and the Presidency to come up with a legislation that will prescribe disarmament in the country.
“Those in possession of unlicensed arms should go and register them and if the arms cannot be licensed, they should be surrendered to the government and the government will pay them,” he said.
“However, they should be given a period of grace after that those who did not comply, if caught, should be given a maximum punishment like a death sentence or life imprisonment.
“This is the only way we can have peace in this country,” he said.
He further stated that the government is working on establishing a State vigilante group that could be deployed to areas that are being troubled by bandits.
According to him, the group would operate within the ambit of the law and in conjunction with the security agencies, so that “they will not take laws into their hands”.
He also suggested robust recruitment and equipping of security agencies, especially, the police, in order to ensure the protection of the citizens.
The Governor also commended the federal government for establishing the Police Trust Fund, which would go a long way in addressing their challenges, NAN reports.
