The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has dismissed rising calls for Nigerians to bear arms as a means of countering insecurity in the country.

The IGP warned that such an approach would only escalate violence and deepen instability across the country.

He stated this on Monday at the second Nigeria democracy week organised by the National Democracy Stakeholders Group (NDSG) on behalf of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, in Abuja.

Represented by the Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ajao Adewale, the IGP noted that widespread civilian access to firearms is not the solution to Nigeria’s multifaceted security crisis.

There has been an appeal by some prominent figures to the Federal Government to allow Nigerians to bear arms to defend themselves, especially in the wake of the recent attacks in Benue and Plateau states that left many dead.

Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District, in 2024 sponsored a bill aimed at empowering Nigerians to bear arms in self-defence against criminals.

Nwoko argued that allowing Nigerians to carry arms would be a deterrent to criminals, potentially addressing the country’s worsening security situation.

But responding to the calls, the IGP maintained that violence cannot be used to solve violence.

“We need to learn from the countries that have allowed such. To what extent will this solve the problem? You cannot solve violence through violence. You solve violence by advocating for peace. Weapon is not the solution. Dialogue, tolerance, and accommodating each other are the way forward,” he said.

Egbetokun emphasised that true security must extend beyond the absence of crime to encompass the protection of rights, welfare, and economic empowerment of citizens, in line with Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution.

On electoral security, the IGP dismissed claims that the police assist in election rigging, describing such allegations as a figment of imagination.

He stated that the police’s role during elections is strictly limited to providing security and ensuring peaceful conduct.

“We are not partisans. We are like umpires. The duty of the police is limited and restricted to the profession of security during the election year. As much as we remain on that, we can’t vote. People vote. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) count. We monitor.

“And that is our situation, and the way forward is that there has been a renewed synergy, inter-agency collaboration, involving even the state government, the INEC, the civil societies, including training and retraining of officers to ensure that they stay on their mandate,” he said.

Speaking, Akume said the reforms introduced under the Tinubu administration are laying the groundwork for long-term national stability and inclusive economic growth.

Akume, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs Office, Engr. Nadungu Gagare, stated that mid-term reviews must serve as instruments of democratic accountability, not ceremonial events.

He noted that President Bola Tinubu took office at a time of global economic volatility and domestic fiscal strain, yet within two years, the administration has embarked on bold structural reforms in key sectors.

According to him, the government’s focus on aligning policies with national development priorities and institutional coordination is already yielding a more coherent governance architecture.

He called for the institutionalisation of mid-term performance reviews across all levels of government, creation of a national democratic resilience framework, and expansion of citizen engagement through digital platforms and open governance.

Chairman of the Nigeria Democracy Stakeholders Group (NDSG), Dr. Kletsaint Akor, charged the Tinubu administration to view the mid-term period not as a ceremonial checkpoint, but as an opportunity for deep accountability, inclusion, and urgent reforms.

According to him, democracy must move from promise to performance, and from slogans to service.
Reflecting on 26 years of uninterrupted civil rule, Akor, while acknowledging reforms such as the removal of fuel subsidies and exchange rate liberalisation, noted that economic hardship, rising discontent, and democratic exclusion are eroding public trust.

He warned that legitimacy must go beyond ballot victories, adding that the 2023 general elections, though technologically improved, still raised concerns about transparency in result management and judicial credibility.

“We must reimagine an electoral system where every vote counts, and every citizen trusts the process. Without electoral legitimacy, governance becomes performative rather than productive. Let us commit to institutionalising electoral reforms, including funding independence for INEC, transparent appointment of commissioners, and strict
sanctions for malpractice,” he said.