The Federal Government on Friday, said state governments have no power to acquire arms and ammunition for their various security outfits.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, revealed this to State House correspondents shortly after the NSC meeting chaired by the President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Aso Rock Villa.
Daily Report Nigeria recalls that the worsening insecurity in the country has made many states to form internal security networks, in other to tackle security threats within their domains.
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However, the effectiveness and functionality of the security networks have been questioned since they are not been equipped with high calibre weapons.
Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, had earlier faulted the Presidency for allegedly approving weapons for the Katsina State Security Outfit while the Amotekun Corps in his state was denied such opportunity.
Governor, Samuel Ortom of Benue State, on Thursday, during a ceremony marking the Passing-Out Parade of the state’s security outfit, known as the Community Volunteer Guard, issued a month ultimatum to the federal government to grant his state’s request for the permit to arm the new outfit with automatic weapons
Fielding questions on the increasing demand by states to acquire automatic weapons for their various internal security outfits, the Chief of Defense Staff, General Lucky Irabor, warned that no state or state governor in Nigeria has the authority to acquire weapons of the caliber they are requesting for.
Irabor, who spoke alongside the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, said that the deployment of high calibre weapons, such as the AK-47 rifles, among others, lies strictly within the purview of the federal government security agencies.
The General said;
“Firearms fall into two major categories. You have the automatic weapons and the ones that we may classify as non-automatic weapons which some of you may even have if you have the appropriate licences.
“What is involved in the class that mentioned has to do with automatic weapons. There’s no state that has been given licence for that.
“So, you do not ask for what you do not have power to acquire.”
The interior minister, Aregbesola, explained further;
“Let’s first debunk the insinuation and false information that state governments have been empowered to arm any of their security outfits.
“There is a procedure for whoever wants to bring in weapons legally. And whoever is authorised by the law of the land to bring in legitimate ammunition, including the army, must go through that process. So, whoever wants to import ammunition or weapons is advised to go through the legitimate process.”
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