The United States Congress has recommended that Nigerian farmers be allowed to carry arms for self-defence following persistent attacks by armed herders and terrorists, a move prompted after US President Donald Trump re-designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) on October 31, 2025. The recommendation came from a report by a congressional panel led by US Congressman Riley Moore and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, which investigated killings and insecurity in Nigeria, including visits to Internally Displaced Persons camps in Benue State.
The panel advised measures including the removal of Fulani militias from confiscated farmland and support for demobilisation, disarmament, and reintegration programmes. It also suggested allowing farmers to carry arms for legitimate self-defence, a recommendation welcomed by farmers across the Middle Belt and South East of Nigeria.
Leaders of the Middle Belt Forum and Mzough U Tiv Worldwide endorsed the recommendation, citing persistent attacks on rural communities. Dr. Bitrus Pogu, national president of MBF, emphasized the need for structured community policing alongside self-defence, noting that some security agencies were compromised or slow to respond. Similarly, Chief Iorbee Ihagh backed the US recommendation, urging further action from the US administration to address Nigeria’s rural insecurity.
Farmers’ associations and individuals, including Philip Ajomuiwe, Chief Israel Amanze, Mr. John Jiller, and HRH Alhaji Bako E Dogwo, expressed support for arming farmers, citing repeated attacks, displacement, and destruction of farmlands. They stressed that proper licensing, training, and a regulated framework would help prevent misuse.
However, some experts and stakeholders urged caution. Chief Amanze recommended allowing state police initiatives to strengthen security before authorizing civilians to bear arms. Zainab Isah Arah of Small Scale Women Farmers Organization in Nigeria argued that self-defence alone could not solve insecurity, emphasizing that security is the responsibility of the state and requires a regulated strategy. Similarly, Engr. Daniel Ijeh of EA Daniels Farm and Dr. Muda Yusuf recommended intelligence, technology, and state-led policing as more effective responses. Sandra Victor-Gwafan of DeBranch Farmers Ltd echoed that while self-defence could provide temporary relief, long-term food security and rural safety depend on systemic government interventions.
The debate highlights the tension between immediate protective measures for farmers and the broader need for coordinated state security, infrastructure, and community-based solutions to tackle rural insecurity in Nigeria.
