Former Peoples Democratic Party presidential aspirant and Regent of Abagana, Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze, on Sunday issued a blistering call for civilian self defense and armed vigilante networks on AIT Democracy Today, saying communities must stop waiting for government help as attacks and mass killings continue to mount.

Speaking on the Enemaku Ojochegbe anchored programme on June 29, 2025, Anakwenze described recent violence around the country as a "massive disgrace" and accused attackers of being guided by "evil spirit and demons" rather than any divine mandate. "God did not tell people to go and kill massacre other human beings," he said. "Life is precious. And God did not tell you to take somebody's land and kill them and rape them."

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When pressed about practical solutions, Anakwenze urged every town and village to set up its own layered civilian security system rather than rely on distant police or federal forces. "All villages and towns needs to have their own vigilante. They need to have their own security. They should not depend on federal government or state government. They will disappoint them," he said, calling for village, town, local government and state level coordination and CCTV at major points to detect movements and rapidly respond.

Anchor Enemaku Ojochegbe pushed back, noting existing vigilante groups already face severe limitations in weapons and equipment against increasingly well armed attackers and that some form of government empowerment might be required. Anakwenze replied that where governors and assemblies pass laws authorizing vigilantes and equip them the approach works, and he argued communities should arm themselves with the same weapons used by attackers if authorities will not act. "If they able to carry AK 47 in Nigeria and nobody stop them, then what stops you from carrying the same AK 47," he said. "If you're waiting for them to pass the law, you'll be dead."

Anakwenze also expressed anger at what he described as a cycle of capture and release. "I hear people arrest those terrorist they hand them over to the police the next day the police release them with their guns. That's what I hear. It's very disheartening, very disgraceful," he said, adding that communities should stop handing captured attackers to police and instead mete out harsh local justice.

The former aspirant repeatedly framed his recommendations as survival measures. "If you waiting if somebody's attacking you and you're waiting for police to come from Abuja, all of you will be dead," he said. "God helps those who help themselves. How can you sit and somebody come and kill your mother and your daughter and your sister and rape them and kill them? How are you accepting something like that? We have to fight back."

Anakwenze's comments come amid growing national outrage over repeated attacks on farming communities and rising calls for new security arrangements. His uncompromising rhetoric and advocacy for armed local defence are likely to deepen debate about the balance between formal security forces, community protection, and the rule of law in Nigeria.