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Babatunde Gbadamosi — businessman, real estate developer and former Lagos State governorship candidate — has told Nigerians they should take up arms to defend themselves against what he described as an escalating terror threat.
In a series of posts on X, Gbadamosi urged citizens to prepare for self‑defence and listed a range of weaponry and equipment he believes would be necessary, from small arms to heavier hardware and drones. He also wrote that people should learn how to use such equipment and resist any attempt to be disarmed, arguing that failing to prepare could put lives at risk. In his posts he singled out what he called “Fulani Muslim jihadist terrorists” as the source of the danger.
The comments prompted an immediate and divided response online. Supporters said the message reflected frustration with perceived gaps in official security provision, while critics warned the call risked encouraging vigilantism, escalating violence and undermining the rule of law.
Many users questioned the practicalities of Gbadamosi’s advice, noting the cost and legal barriers that make access to weapons and drones unrealistic for most citizens. Others argued the post raised urgent questions about responsibility: who should ensure public safety, and how should civilians balance self‑defence with respect for the law?
Legal and security specialists caution that calls to arm civilians can have serious consequences. Unregulated access to weapons tends to increase the risk of violent confrontations, accidental injuries and criminality, and could complicate efforts by security forces to restore order. Observers say long‑term solutions require strengthening institutions, improving policing and addressing root causes of insecurity.
Gbadamosi’s intervention highlights the depth of public anxiety over security in parts of the country. Whether it will lead to any change in policy or public behaviour remains to be seen, but the debate it has reignited touches on difficult questions about protection, governance and the limits of civilian action in the face of violent threats.
