The Federal Government has asked Nigerians to desist from taking up arms in defending bandits attacks.

Muhammed Dingyadi, minister of police affairs, said this on Tuesday during the second annual ministerial media briefing at the police headquarters in Abuja.

Recall that Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State earlier advised residents of the State to rise above meekness and defend themselves against the bandits.

Reacting, Dingyadi said the Governor is entitled to his opinion.

According to him, “Everybody should contribute his quota towards fighting crimes. We are not saying people should take arms illegally.”

“I think we should know that we are in Nigeria, where everybody is entitled to his opinion. I think the governor has the right to canvass for what he thinks is right in his state.

“Also, we shouldn’t expect the people to just be sleeping without taking measures to ensure that they secure themselves, their neighbours and their communities. That is the essence of community policing.

“So, we need to have the support and partnership of Nigerians in the efforts we are making towards fighting crimes and criminalities. I think that is what the governor is talking about.

“What we’re saying is that people should get ready in whatever it takes to do so, to ensure that we protect ourselves, we protect our neighbours, we protect our communities,” he said.