The Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi State, Aliyu Garba, has said the Command has not been directed by the State Government to issue gun license to citizens of the state for self defense.

This is as he maintained that people of the state would kill themselves daily if allowed to carry guns around.

The police boss stated this in a telephone interview with our correspondent, in Abakaliki, on Sunday, adding the idea of gun licencing was alien to the Nigerian system.

He said, “There is no such directive from the Ebonyi State Government to the Police here.

“Ebonyi people will be killing themselves if they are given guns for self defense. People that are looking for something and they hadn’t seen. Now the thing is at their beck and call? They will be killing themselves.

“Everyday, they are carrying cutlasses and killing. What would happen when they are allowed to carry guns? Even the Americans are coming up with measures to stop their citizens from carrying guns and we are here talking about carrying same guns. You are giving African man gun for self defense? I’m telling you, just mere provocation, he would enter into the room, carry it and fire.

“My brother, it’s not a good thing. It’s unfortunate that security has turned upside down. Otherwise all these things are strange to our society. I preach that law and order should always be maintained and then citizens should respect one another’s rights.”

Garba was responding to an inquiry whether his Command, had been asked to commence gun licencing for self defense, as is the case in Zamfara State, currently, owing to terrorist attacks and banditry.

Efforts to get the State Government to comment on the matter failed.

The Senior Special Assistant to Ebonyi State Government on Security, Chief Stanley Okoro-Emegha, did not pick calls by our correspondent.

He was yet to respond to messages sent to his mobile as of the time of filing this report.