As insecurity continues to escalate in parts of Nigeria, Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State has cautioned against calls for citizens to resort to self-defence, warning that such a move could plunge the country into anarchy.

Speaking on Sunrise Daily, a programme on Channels Television, on Monday, Governor Namadi responded to remarks by retired General Theophilus Danjuma, who recently urged Nigerians to defend themselves against bandits and armed attackers, particularly in Benue and Plateau states.

General Danjuma, a former Minister of Defence, argued that relying solely on the government for protection had become untenable in light of the widespread violence and killings across the country.

“It is now very clear that the government alone cannot protect us. We must stand up and defend ourselves, our families, and our lands before these criminals overrun the entire country,” Danjuma said at a public event in Takum, Taraba State, on Saturday.

However, Governor Namadi dismissed that approach as a dangerous proposition.

“He (T.Y. Danjuma) is a very senior security personality, and his views warrant respect and reflection,” Namadi said. “But I believe that advocating for self-defence will only lead to anarchy. I don’t think we are at that stage yet.”

He emphasised that rather than promoting armed self-defence, governments at all levels must work to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.

“The government is doing its best in terms of security arrangements. If citizens begin to arm themselves, it could escalate tensions, particularly between farmers and herders,” he warned.

Namadi pointed to his administration’s efforts to resolve longstanding farmer-herder conflicts in Jigawa State through non-violent means.

“Upon assuming office, we adopted several strategies, including dialogue. We engaged traditional rulers and representatives of both farmers and herders. Through consensus, we established standing committees to mediate and reconcile the parties,” he said.

He noted that these initiatives had helped end a decades-long conflict.

“The people now realise that the 25 years spent fighting and killing each other were not worth it. Today, they live, work, and interact peacefully,” he added.

Governor Namadi also stressed that Jigawa is not among the states facing large-scale insurgency or mass killings, noting that the primary security challenge remains the farmer-herder dispute — a problem his administration is addressing decisively.

“We thank God Jigawa State is not affected by insurgency. Our major concern is the farmer-herder clash, which we are managing effectively,” he said.

Despite the worsening security in other parts of the country, Namadi maintained that self-defence is not a viable solution.

“The government is doing its best, both at the federal and state levels. I don’t believe the time has come to ask citizens to take up arms,” he said.