The Public Relations Officer for the Delta State Police, Bright Edafe has called on Nigerians to manage their anger to avoid ugly situations like murder.
He also reiterated that claims of self-defence in a murder case can only be determined by the Court of law.
Edafe made this known in a post on his X handle on Friday while noting that the command paraded two murder suspects relating to self-defence.
He added that despite claims by the suspects that their actions which led to the death of their victims were self-defence, are being prosecuted for the offence.
He wrote, “Among these suspects paraded were two suspects both involved in suspected murder cases. The first one happened in Ozoro where the girlfriend suspected of being under the influence of drugs while fighting with the boyfriend, used a knife to cut him in his hands, the boy retaliated and stabbed the girlfriend in her shoulder.
“Guess what? She bled to death, and the guy is facing a murder charge. Call it self-defence, that’s for the court to decide.
“In another instance here in Asaba, a who visited a family friend told the wife that the husband had been asking her out, the wife called and confronted the husband who got angry and asked the girl to leave their house.
“Instead, she went to the kitchen, and the man followed her, one thing led to the other, the man stabbed the lady and she also died.
“The man is going for murder charges. I repeat call it self-defence, it’s for the court to decide.
He, however, advised the public on temper management, noting that self-defence is for the ‘court to decide’.
“My reason for narrating this story is for us to be guided and manage our temper very well to avoid being in this kind of situation. A word is enough for the wise,” he warned.
Recall, a Chinese national, Frank Geng Quangrong, accused of culpable homicide in the death of his girlfriend, Ummulkhulsum Sani Buhari, claimed it was an intentional killing.
Quangrong stated that he stabbed his girlfriend in self-defence after she allegedly forcibly grabbed his testes in September 2022.
Calls for self-defence
There have been numerous appeals from various stakeholders across the country for the right to self-defence.
One such call came from Ned Nwoko, the lawmaker representing Delta North Senatorial District, who proposed a bill in January that would allow civilians to own and carry firearms for self-defence due to increasing insecurity in the country.
“An amendment bill allowing civilian firearm ownership must be introduced in the Senate. My bill on self-defence and firearms ownership regulation, currently listed in the Senate awaiting its first reading, deals with this pressing issue,” Nwoko said.
However, Nwoko is not alone in this position.
Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, also voiced his support in 2022 for Nigerians to have the opportunity to bear arms and protect themselves against terrorists.
Also, Samuel Ortom, former Governor of Benue State back in 2020, urged the Federal Government to permit law-abiding citizens to carry firearms for self-defence.
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