Popular Nigerian lawyer, Stan Alieke, has emphasized that the private ownership of guns has been banned and criminalized in Nigeria.

The Abuja-based lawyer, who is well-known for sharing helpful legal tips and information on his Instagram page, noted how in Florida, USA, the court, last week, had legalized the carrying of firearms in public.

He also revealed that he is unsure if Nigerians should advocate for private gun ownership, considering the rate of gun violence in parts of the world where it has been legalized.

Sending a public message to private individuals with guns, he stressed that the act of owning gun privately, had been banned and criminalized, adding that to own a gun privately, the license has to be received from the President directly or the Inspector General of Police.

He further emphasized that those who had license before have seen their license revoked due to the increase in rate of insecurity.

He however, noted that there have been some arguments surrounding gun ownership, with some believing that it will reduce the rate of insecurity.

He wrote:
"Last week, the court legalized the carrying of firearms openly in public in Florida, USA; the use of concealed weapons was legalized in 2021. Back home; I honestly don’t know if Nigerians should advocate for private gun ownership to be legalised because of the rate of gun violence in cities of the world where private gun ownership has been legalised.

Btw, in Nigeria today, private ownership of guns has been banned & criminalised. For you to own a gun, you have to get a license directly from the president or from the IGP & every license that was previously issued was withdrawn due to the high rate of insecurity, but some people have argued that once private gun ownership is legalized the rate of insecurity will be minimized. What do you think?"