Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso has issued a stark warning over the unchecked rise of vigilante groups across Nigeria, describing the trend as a growing danger that is feeding insecurity and accelerating the spread of illegal weapons. His statement, released through his verified social media channels, painted a troubling picture of a nation struggling to control the flow of arms while grappling with mounting violence.
He argued that the Federal Government, already strained by the country’s security crises, has allowed a wave of unregulated security outfits to flourish under state government initiatives, with little training and no clear oversight. He noted that this approach has opened the gates to widespread circulation of small arms and light weapons, a development he called both alarming and deeply irresponsible.
Kwankwaso pointed to the rise of political militia groups that operate under the guise of community protection but in reality aggravate tension and threaten national stability. He warned that the emergence of such armed actors reflects a breakdown in coordinated security management and exposes citizens to even greater risks.
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He voiced further concern about rising ethnic and regional profiling carried out under the banner of security operations. Reports of arbitrary arrests, harassment and alleged torture, he said, are heightening mistrust and deepening divisions at a time when the country can least afford it. He added that online spaces have become fertile ground for hate speech and intimidation, inflaming ethnic and religious hostilities that endanger national cohesion.
Drawing from his experience as a former Minister of Defence and former Chairman of the Committee on the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, Kwankwaso said the ease with which weapons now move across communities is unacceptable and demands urgent correction. He urged the Federal Government to halt what he called dangerous trends before they escalate beyond control.
Kwankwaso congratulated General Christopher Musa on his appointment as Minister of Defence and expressed hope that with firm political backing he can help restore order and drive meaningful security reform.
