South East: No One Has Right To Carry AK-47 – President Buhari Warns

President Muhammadu Buhari

President Buhari has again warned that no one has the right to carry an AK-47, on Friday in Abakaliki, except for a law enforcement officer.

Buhari insisted that anyone seen in any part of the country carrying an AK-47 and he or she is not a law enforcement officer is a threat to the peaceful coexistence of Nigerians.

He said this while pledging that the Federal Government would deploy its strength to protect innocent and hardworking Nigerians from terrorists and those causing break down of law and order in the South East region.

This comes a few days after the recent gruesome murder of an army couple by bandits allegedly sympathetic to the agitations of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Recall that the Nigerian Army had alleged that its officers were beheaded by IPOB after their wedding in Imo State.

Speaking at a meeting with South-East leaders, during his two-day State visit to Ebonyi, the President expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in the region, reiterating his directive to security agencies to ‘‘flush out’’ those perpetrating violence in the land.

This was contained in a statement by Buhari’s spokesman, Femi Adesina, on Friday.

Buhari said, ‘‘I must register my deep and grave concern with regards to the deteriorating state of security affairs in this region.

‘‘In the last 48 hours, I have been informed of the latest in the round of brutal actions carried out by gun-wielding terrorists, who prey on innocent and hardworking citizens, unfortunately, these barbaric acts were visited upon those who have committed their lives to protect their fellow citizens,’’ he said.

The President paid tributes to members of the Nigerian armed forces who recently lost their lives in the region.

“There are many that fit this profile and the government owes them that obligation to protect lives and property.

‘‘I will once again repeat, no one has the right to carry an AK-47, and anyone seen in any part of the country doing so and is not a law enforcement officer is a threat to our peaceful coexistence and should be treated as such,’’ he said.