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From Rose Ejembi and Scholastica Onyeka, Makurdi
The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has given the Federal Government one month to approve his request to procure AK47 and other sophisticated weapons for the State Security Volunteer Guards (BSVG).
Ortom, who gave this ultimatum while speaking during the passing out parade of BSVG, batch two, at IBB Square in Makurdi, yesterday, threatened that if the federal government failed to approve his request, he would consult the Benue people and proceed to do their wish.
The governor said: “I have, on behalf of the Benue State Government, applied to the responsible federal government agency for approval to procure automatic weapons, particularly AK47 assault rifles, to further strengthen your logistics support base and your defence capability.
“I am still awaiting approval from the federal government to deal, accordingly, with my request, and if they fail, I will come home and seek advice from my people, and I will do whatever they say.”
He, however, noted that the state government had already procured some essential equipment as permitted by the law, including motor vehicles and motorcycles, and handed them over to the police for use by the volunteer guards, for effective crime fighting.
The governor, who had inaugurated 500 guards in the first batch, further inspected the passing out of 1,100 members with a vow to train 10,000 guards before the expiration of his tenure in 2023.
He reiterated that it was the commitment to ensuring security of lives and property, as well as peaceful co-existence for all the people living in the confines of Benue State that the state government, alongside the communities decided on the establishment of Community Volunteer Guards, with the law enacted by the Benue State House of Assembly in July, 2000 and amended in October, 2021.
He lamented that the number of the conventional security men in the state were grossly inadequate to contend the heightened aggression on the state, saying his intention was to provide support for them. He urged the police, army, civil defence and others to rise up to their paths to defend lives and property in the country.
(Continued on www.sunnewsonline.com)
Also speaking at the event, the Tor Tiv, HRH Ochivirigh James Ayatse, who lauded the initiative said Benue is not at war with any group, but the need to replace exterior aggression has made the security outfit a necessity.
The Tor Tiv, who was represented by the Tor Kwande, Chief Ambrose Iortyer, pledged that the traditional council will continue to offer maximum support to enable them succeed.
The Och’Idoma, HRH Agabaidu John Elaigwu, described the coming of BSVG “as an act of God hatched by Samuel Ortom” and expressed belief that with the guards, the security issues in Benue will be reduced to the barest minimum.
Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly and gubernatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Titus Uba, said the state assembly has endorsed the establishments of state police, as it would help safeguard lives and property across the country. He urged people to provide information for the guards, to enable them fight insecurity in the state.
