A coalition of youth groups under the banner of Concerned Plateau Youths (CPY) has appealed to security agencies in Nigeria to allow them to bear arms in order to defend their communities from repeated attacks by bandits and suspected Fulani militias.
The group made this passionate appeal during a press conference held on Sunday in Jos, the Plateau State capital. According to the group’s coordinator, Mr. Gershon Auta, the call is born out of frustration, helplessness, and a strong desire to protect their people from continued killings, displacement, and destruction of property.
Auta said that Plateau youths are not afraid to defend their land and people, but have been consistently hindered by laws that prevent them from carrying weapons, even for self-defence.
“Youths in Plateau State are not cowards and we are not afraid to confront the Fulani militias and bandits who take delight in attacking our rural communities, killing our people, sacking our communities, and taking over our ancestral lands,” he said.
The CPY lamented the increasing frequency of attacks on villages across the state, especially in Bokkos, Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Mangu, and parts of Jos South, saying that while attackers often come armed with sophisticated weapons, communities are left defenceless due to legal restrictions on arms possession.
“We know it is illegal under Nigerian law to carry unregistered weapons, and we are not asking to break the law. But we are making a humble appeal to security agencies and government authorities to permit us — in a legal and controlled manner — to carry arms for the protection of our communities,” Auta explained.
He raised questions about the source of weapons used by the attackers, wondering how militias and herdsmen were able to access and transport high-powered firearms without detection by the same security agencies that prevent locals from acquiring even basic self-defence tools.
“How do these militias get their weapons? Are their arms legally acquired? Why is it that the people who are being attacked are the ones restricted from getting weapons for protection?” he asked.
Auta shared a recent incident in Bokkos Local Government Area where youths, out of desperation, pooled resources to buy locally made guns to defend their village from invaders. Although they succeeded in repelling the attackers, soldiers stormed the community the next day and arrested several of the young men involved, branding them as criminals.
“Till today, some of those boys are still missing. Their families don’t know where they are. There are fears that some may have been killed. This is unfair,” he said.
He described such actions as double standards, where unarmed communities are punished for defending themselves while attackers operate freely and with impunity.
The CPY is calling on the federal and Plateau State governments, as well as security chiefs, to consider setting up community defence frameworks or legalising controlled arms ownership in vulnerable rural areas. They argue that no society can survive repeated invasions without being allowed to defend itself.
“We have local vigilante groups and hunters who are willing to work with security agencies, but they are useless if you take away the tools they need to operate. Self-defence is not a crime,” Auta insisted.
He also demanded the immediate release or arraignment of the youths arrested in Bokkos, saying their continued detention without trial is unjust and a violation of their rights.
“Our message is simple: allow us to protect ourselves. We are tired of burying our people. We are tired of watching helplessly as our homes are destroyed. If the government cannot be everywhere at once, let us at least take responsibility for our own communities,” he concluded.
The insecurity in Plateau State has remained a major concern for years, with recurring violence between farming communities and suspected herdsmen leading to hundreds of deaths and widespread displacement. While government forces have been deployed to affected areas, many residents say the response is often too late or ineffective.
