In
the past, possession of a pistol in Nigeria was an exclusive preserve of
retired top military brass, high- ranking police officers and few wealthy
Nigerians who could afford the usually expensive license. Then, there were
armed robbers, drug barons and a few other roughnecks who used guns illegally
to carry out their nefarious activities.
But the
story has changed. Not only are pistols in wrong hands, machine guns and AK47
rifles as well as other highly sophisticated guns are today being freely used
by wrong persons at the slightest provocation. More worrisome is the rate at
which high-calibre guns are being used to settle minor disagreements among
members of road transport workers union.
