Amid a wave of relentless bandit attacks, residents of Kebbe Local Government Area in Sokoto State have appealed to the Federal Government to grant them the right to bear arms for self-defence. He accused the state authorities of failing to assess the worsening security situation or provide adequate support to local security volunteers battling the bandits. The community leaders also demanded direct federal allocations to local governments to enable them to fund and equip local security operatives. Although the state government has acknowledged the growing threat, residents insist that government efforts have been too little, too late. Security analysts say the residents’ desperate call for self-defence reflects the erosion of trust in the state’s capacity to safeguard lives and property.