Killings: Defend yourselves, Rep tells constituents

Dachung Musa Bagos bemoaned the fact that most of his constituents now live in fear

Dachung Musa Bagos
  • Dachung Musa Bagos, a member representing Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, urges constituents to embrace constitutional means of self-defence
  • Bagos expresses sadness over the ongoing attacks and condemns the barbaric acts
  • Bagos emphasizes the duty of citizens to protect themselves when the government fails in its role, calling on Plateau citizens to unite and defend their land against attackers

Dachung Musa Bagos, the member representing Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has urged his constituents to embrace constitutional means of self-defence.

Bagos made the statement in response to the renewed killings in the state’s Mangu and Jos South Local Government Areas.

Over the weekend, bandits are said to have killed over 20 people.

Bagos, who expressed sadness over the ongoing attacks, urged citizens to defend themselves in accordance with Nigeria’s constitution, which guarantees the right to self-defence.

Sadly, innocent citizens are being attacked and killed on the daily basis in Plateau State, particularly in Riyom, Barkin Ladi and Mangu; hundreds have lost their lives since May 2023, villagers can’t go to the farm. Several displaced persons camps, land taken over, farmlands destroyed, what a wicked world!
Just on Saturday, 12 persons were killed in Mangu and also yesterday night, seven of my constituents who are miners were targeted and gunned down; this barbaric act is condemned.

According to him, among those killed in the attack were Ishaya David from Tana, Paul Adamu Dangyuruk, Bitrus mancha Dantou, Davou Boyi from Dawurum, Joseph John from Dawurum, and Timothy Peter from Dawurum, all of whom lived in Turu, Jos South Area of the state.

He bemoaned the fact that most of his constituents now live in fear, noting that attacks occur on a daily basis.

Bagos said;
In the face of this kind of breakdown in the will and capacity of the government to protect the people and their communities, law-abiding citizens must organise to protect themselves.
The point here is when the government failed in its constitutional role to protect its people, citizens have a legitimate duty in law and morality to ensure the continuity of human life.
Self-defence is indeed a constitutional right. Under section 14(2)(b) of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.
Accordingly, Section 17(2)(b) of the same constitution requires that “the sanctity of the human person shall be recognised” and to reinforce this, section 33(2)(a) makes self-defence lawful when undertaken in “defence of any person from unlawful violence or for the defence of property.
I want to call on all Plateau citizens to be alert and defend themselves against attackers, and all Plateau State citizens must unite to defend the land. We are peaceful people, but our inheritance which is our land will never be taken by force.
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