Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, on Thursday inaugurated the state’s security outfit called Community Volunteer Guards.
At the inauguration, the Governor said it became necessary to set-up the CVG because of the security challenges the state has been facing.
“Today, Nigeria’s security architecture is gasping for breath as nobody is safe anymore. The worsening insecurity in the country has complicated Benue State’s security situation as other forms of criminality have started creeping in due to the Federal Government’s refusal to decisively address insecurity.”
He added that activities of Fulani herdsmen in the state have claimed over 5,000 lives from 2011 to date, recalled how 73 persons were killed in a single attack in January 2018 as well as 17 other persons, including two catholic priests were killed in another attack by herdsmen in April of the same year.
“By the provisions of the new Law, the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards can therefore now carry legally approved weapons which we have duly provided.
Ortom, during the inauguration at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida(IBB) Square, Makurdi revealed that he will be applying for licenses to enable the guards to use AK-47, AK-49 and other sophisticated weapons.
The Benue State Government also procured a fleet of 30 Innoson Operational Vehicles, a fleet of motorcycles and 200 Communication gadgets to enable the Volunteer Guards function maximally.
The gross insecurity in the country has prompted many state governments to create their state-controlled security outfits.
South Western states have since done a similar thing by instituting the Amotekun Security outfit.
The Federal Government has continued to sidestep the need for State policing, severally turning a blind eye to the request of majority of Nigerians to allow states police themselves, especially as the Federal Government has proved unable to protect the people.
