Governor of Benue state Samuel Ortom has inaugurated an additional 1,100 personnel into the state security outfit codenamed community volunteer guards to compliment efforts of conventional security apparatus.
He urged the new addition to be vigilant and protect their communities against invasion from terrorists who are bent on taking over their lands.
Paul Hemba, Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, provided an update on the outfit, which was officially inaugurated on August 4th.
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Other key stakeholders praised the intervention, saying it has contributed to the much-needed increase in security, particularly in the hinterlands.
The Governor who oversaw the passing-out parade of the operatives in Makurdi bemoaned the fact that from 2011 to the present, more than 5,000 Benue natives had been killed in frequent attacks by armed herdsmen, displacing more than 1.5 million people. He emphasized that the guards would be legally armed to carry out their duties.
He pledged to apply for licenses for the AK47 and AK49 to adequately arm the guards and give them the ability to defend Benue communities from armed herder attacks.
Governor Ortom noted that “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.
“It is owing to this failure that the Benue State Government under my watch decided to revisit the Benue State Vigilante Law of 2000, which was enacted to complement the conventional security agencies in the State to address emerging security issues.
Speaking on behalf of the Benue Traditional Council, BTC, the Tor Tiv, HRM. Prof James Ayatse pledged the full support of the council to the establishment of the BSCVG, assuring that the BTC would partner the guards to ensure the security of lives and property in the rural communities.
