Benue state Governor Samuel Ortom said he is giving the federal government one month grace to look into his request to procure AK47 for the State Community Volunteer Guards, BSCVG or he will do the wish of his people.
Ortom stated this at the passing out parade of over 1000 members of BSCVG, batch two, at IBB square in Makurdi on Thursday.
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 riffles to further strengthen your logistic support base and your defense capability.
He stated that “I am still awaiting approval from the Federal Government to deal accordingly. If they fail, I will come home and seek advice from my people and I will do whatever they say.”
He said state government has already procured some essential equipment as permitted by the Law, to enable them perform and urged them to operate within the armbit of the law.
Ortom who noted that his administration would train 10,000 guards before the expiration of his tenure in 2023, said it’s part of his commitment to ensure security of lives and property as well as peaceful co-existence for all the people living in the confines of the state.
Meanwhile, the Tor Tiv, HRH Ochivirigh James Ayatse, commended Governor Ortom for the initiative pledging that the traditional council will continue to offer their support to enable them succeed.
The Och’Idoma, HRH Agabaidu John Odogbo said the coming of BSVG is an act of God saying he was sure that their activities in collaboration with other security agencies will put and end to the attacks and killings in the state.