Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State on Thursday issued a one-month ultimatum to the Federal Government to give the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards a licence to bear AK-47 rifles, IgbereTV reports
The governor said he applied for a licence for the state-owned security outfit to bear AK-47 rifles three months ago but the Federal Government has not given him any response.
He said his people will make a categorical decision on the matter in the next month if the Federal Government continues its refusal.
Ortom spoke in Makurdi, the state capital at the passing out parade of batch B of the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards. He inaugurated the first batch on August 4.
Addressing the guards on Thursday, Ortom said the aim of the state-owned security agency is to complement efforts by the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies in curbing surging crimes and killings in the state.
He also argued for the creation of state police, saying the decentralisation of the current policing system in the country will go a long way to address the worsening security challenges of kidnapping and terrorism ubiquitous across Nigeria
