The Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom on Thursday announced that the state government would procure A-47 and Ak-49 riffles for Community Volunteer Guards, the state’s security outfit.
The governor made this known at the state capital, Makurdi. Ortom’s announcement comes as other states including Ondo, Ekiti, Osun and Zamfara said they would arm their securities as insecurity continues to worsen in Nigeria,
During the unveiling of the Benue state security outfit, Ortom said that the need to arm the state’s security outfit with sophisticated weapons arose from the Federal Government’s failure to “disarm the terrorists who have continued to maim and kill our people at will.”
He maintained that the state would apply for a “license to legally procure AK-47, AK-49 and other sophisticated weapons for the Benue State Volunteers Guards to enable them tackle these murderous terrorists effectively.”
He stressed that the state’s security outfit would be strictly guided by law
Ortom said, “Given the fact that the Federal Government has consistently failed to disarm the terrorists who have continued to maim and kill our people at will, the state government is going to apply for a licence to legally procure AK-47, AK-49 and other sophisticated weapons for the Benue State Volunteers Guards to enable them tackle these murderous terrorists effectively.
“To do this effectively, the Benue State Government had approved a two-week capacity building programme for 500 personnel of the Community Volunteer Guards to learn some basic paramilitary aspects.”
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In Ondo State, the state government said it is working towards getting a license for the operatives of Amotekun Corps to enable them face bandits, The Punch reported.
The Commander of the Amotekun Corps and Special Adviser to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu on Security, Akogun Adeleye, said the major challenge of Amotekun is not being able to carry sophisticated weapons.
“We were made to understand that such weapons belong to the exclusive list that will only be granted by the Federal Government and that is why we are asking for the creation of state police which will put to rest all these intimidations by these invaders,” Adeleye told The Punch.
This was also confirmed by the the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security Matters, Jimoh Dojumo, who said the government was working towards acquiring the licence.
“We are working towards that and it will pass through the state House of Assembly,” he stated.
In Osun State, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Abiodun Ige, said Governor Gboyega Oyetola was of the strong opinion that Amotekun should bear arms, according to The Punch.
Ige said, “It is the governor that will be able to answer that question but I know that Governor Oyetola is of the strong opinion that if they can allow them (Amotekun) to carry arms, it will be fine.
“But under the current operational law, they are to work in collaboration with other security agencies. And that gives them the fire-power that they need to operate effectively.”
In Ekiti State, the Special Adviser on Security Matters to Ekiti State Governor, Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana (retd.), said that the state was working towards empowering operatives of its security outfit, Amotekun Corps while reacting to Ortom’s statement that he would legally apply for a license to procure Ak-47 for the Benue State’s security outfit.
Ogundana said, “We are working towards that. We are looking at the situation where the operatives of our security outfit can carry automatic weapons”.
“I can assure you that we are going to empower Amotekun any moment from now.”
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Government says it has no plan to procure Ak-47 riffles for state security to combat insecurity challenges.
The Special Adviser to the state governor on security matters, Assistant Inspector General Sola Subair (retd.) on Thursday stated this The Punch reported.
He said, “We need to be reminded that there is still ban on the issuance of licence for firearms. I don’t know what legal means he (Ortom) is going to use to get Ak-47.
“I know that in Nigeria, there is no law that permits anyone to carry firearms. The law does not permit anybody to carry AK- 47.”
Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.
