2025-04-15https://repository.covenantuniversity.edu.ng/handle/123456789/48316Purpose – ThisstudyaimstoinvestigatetheclamourbythepeopleofPlateauState,Nigeria,formore licencestobearfirearmsforself-defencebecauseofthecontinuousfailureoftheNigerianStateto defendthemagainsttheFulaniherders’aggression.Moregunslesscrimedeterrencetheoryservedas theframeworkofanalysis,whichpositsthatbecausecriminalsarerationalbeings,theywillchoosenotto attackwhentheyknowmanypeoplehavelegitimatefirearms. Design/methodology/approach – Datawerecollectedfromfourpurposefullyselectedlocal governmentareasofthestate.Thisstudy’ssamplesizewas400.Therefore,400copiesoftheGoogle Formsquestionnairewereadministered.Inaddition,sevenkeyinformantinterviewsandninefocusgroup discussionswerealsoconducted. Findings – Thisresearchresultsshowedthefollowing:whileself-defenceandissuanceofmorelicenses weresupportedby84.8%and85.0%ofrespondents,respectively,theyalsoarguedthattheinsurgency wouldlikelyendifmorepeoplecarriedlegallyacquiredfirearms.Again,thestudyshowedapositive correlationbetweenthegovernment’sfailureinsecurityandthedemandforself-defenceexercises againsttheFulaniherdsmen’sinsurgency,thisstudyrecommendsmorelicensedfirearmsforthepeople of PlateauState. Originality/value – ThisstudyrecommendsmorelicencedfirearmsforthepeopleofPlateauStateapplication/pdfH Social Sciences (General), HM SociologyArticle