By Paul Okojie

The recent remarks by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) in Makurdi, Benue State, directing police officers to intensify efforts to recover illegal firearms from civilians have once again brought Nigeria’s security dilemma into sharp focus. On the surface, the directive is consistent with the law. No responsible nation can permit the unchecked proliferation of illegal weapons. However, the larger question remains: Can the government demand strict compliance with the law when it has consistently failed to uphold its own primary responsibility, the protection of lives and property?

This is the uncomfortable conversation Nigerians have been having for years. There’s still no comprehensive answer on how to handle this crisis of insecurity and violence going on in our country unabated.

Across Benue, Plateau, Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Niger, Borno and several other states, communities have repeatedly come under brutal attacks by terrorists, bandits cattle rustlers and armed criminal groups. Entire villages have been razed, hundreds killed, thousands displaced and livelihoods destroyed. Yet, survivors often tell the same heartbreaking story: security agencies either arrived hours after the attack had ended or did not arrive at all or the attackers dressed in military fatigues.

It is within this context that calls for the surrender of illegal firearms are being received with scepticism rather than confidence.

No democratic society should encourage citizens to take the law into their own hands. Vigilantism and the proliferation of illegal arms create long-term security risks and can fuel further violence.

However, governments must also understand that self-help often emerges where citizens believe the state has failed to provide adequate protection. When people repeatedly witness attacks without timely intervention, confidence in state institutions inevitably declines.

This crisis is not merely about weapons. It is fundamentally about trust. The security agencies need to come clean on their challenges while making promise to fulfill their constitutional responsibilities.

The Nigerian Constitution places the responsibility for security squarely on the government. Citizens surrender certain freedoms, including the unrestricted right to bear arms, in exchange for protection under the rule of law. That social contract begins to weaken when communities perceive that security responses are consistently inadequate or delayed.

The problem goes beyond the Nigeria Police Force alone. It reflects systemic weaknesses involving multiple security institutions. Questions continue to arise about intelligence gathering, inter-agency coordination, emergency response capabilities, Judicial accountability and the prosecution of those responsible for violent attacks with speed. Many communities complain that warnings are ignored until tragedy occurs.

Repeated incidents across the country have deepened public frustration. Families who have lost loved ones often ask why security forces stationed nearby could not respond more quickly. Others question why perpetrators are rarely identified, arrested and successfully prosecuted. These concerns have contributed to a growing trust deficit between citizens and security institutions.

Public confidence cannot be restored through enforcement alone. It must be earned through consistent performance and the IGP must be at his best performance to enthrone proper public confidence, through effective public relations with constant enlightenment of citizens and communities on their roles in assisting the police with credible information on activities going on around their communities.

If authorities want Nigerians to voluntarily surrender illegal firearms, they must first convince citizens that the state is capable of protecting them without those weapons. That requires more than public directives. It will requires visible improvements in intelligence, rapid deployment capabilities, community policing, emergency communication systems and professional conduct by security personnel.

There is also a need for greater transparency. When attacks occur, authorities should provide timely information on investigations, arrests and prosecutions. Accountability for failures, where appropriate, is equally important. Citizens are more likely to cooperate with law enforcement when they believe institutions are responsive, impartial and effective.

The challenge is therefore not simply one of disarmament but of rebuilding legitimacy. Law enforcement works best where there is public trust. Communities that believe the police will protect them are far more likely to share intelligence, reject criminal elements and comply with lawful directives.

Nigeria’s security crisis demands both firmness and reform. Illegal firearms should indeed be removed from circulation, but such efforts must go hand in hand with demonstrable improvements in the state’s ability to protect vulnerable communities. One without the other risks deepening public suspicion rather than strengthening national security.

The path forward is clear. Before asking frightened citizens to place complete faith in the state, the state must first show that such faith is justified. Protection must come before persuasion. Security must precede enforcement. Trust, once broken, is restored not by declarations but by action.

Until Nigerians consistently see security agencies preventing attacks, responding rapidly when danger strikes and ensuring that perpetrators face justice, many will continue to question whether disarming vulnerable communities addresses the root of the country’s insecurity or merely its symptoms. A secure nation is built not only on laws, but on the confidence that those entrusted to enforce them can also keep the people safe.

Paul Okojie is a Media Consultant/Journalist.