Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, says his administration will legally acquire AK-47 and other sophisticated weapons for the state security personnel known as Community Volunteer Guards.
The Governor who disclosed this on Thursday, at the unveiling ceremony of the new recruits, during the passing out parade held, at IBB Square in Makurdi, said 500 personnel selected from the 23 local government areas of the state have already been recruited in the first batch.
According to governor Ortom, his administration decided to establish the security organisation owing to inability of the federal government to neutralize the rampaging Fulani terrorists.
In his words: “Benue State has been especially targeted because of the historic episode of 1804, and also because of my administration’s insistence on the Rule of Law rather than rule of terror…
“And for always standing with my people in their refusal to surrender their land, identity and Judeo-Christian faith and values to the Islamization agenda.
“Given the fact that the Federal Government has consistently failed to disarm the Fulani terrorists who have continued to maim and kill our people at will, the State Government is going to apply for a License to legally procure AK47, AK49 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 Five Hundred (500) personnel of the Community Volunteer Guards to learn some basic paramilitary aspects.
“The training which began on 29th June, 2022 with five hundred (500) participants drawn from the 23 Local Government Areas and the three Senatorial Districts ended on 12th July, 2022. A date for the Batch 2 would also be announced as soon as possible.”
Punch reports that following unveiling of the security outfit, governor Ortom expressed optimism that security will improve in the state, noting, “The issue of banditry, kidnapping, robbery, and most of all, the issue of terrorists Fulani herdsmen attack would be reduced to the barest minimum.”
He guaranteed that the State Community Volunteer Guards operations would be strictly guided by the law and warned that any personnel found operating outside the legal framework would be booted out of the system.
According to the report, thirty operational vehicles and 200 Communication gadgets have been bought to maximize operations of the Volunteer Guards.
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