Former Sports Minister Dalung Recounts His Encounter With A Bandit On TikTok

Former Sports Minister Solomon Dalung has shared a disturbing account of an unexpected interaction with a self-described bandit during a TikTok browsing session.

Speaking in an interview with News Central, Dalung said the platform suddenly connected him with a young man who introduced himself as a bandit trained in the bush.

Dalung questioned him about the killings and raids devastating communities.

The young man claimed their attacks were retaliation for alleged vigilante assaults, saying vigilantes had killed their people and seized their cattle.

When Dalung pointed out that bandits also attack fellow Fulanis and steal their livestock, the young man insisted that only those living in the bush were regarded as “true Fulanis,” while anyone living in town was considered an outsider and therefore an enemy.

Asked what could end the violence, the bandit suggested they might be open to a negotiated disarmament. Dalung said the calmness and confidence with which he made these statements were deeply unsettling.

Reflecting on the encounter, Dalung called on the National Assembly to revisit the constitution and consider provisions that would allow citizens to legally bear arms for self-defense, arguing that many Nigerians feel increasingly vulnerable amid rising insecurity.