Samuel Ortom, the governor of Benue State, has introduced the Community Volunteer Guards, the state’s security force.
He promised that his government would legally obtain advanced weaponry such as the AK-47 and AK-49 for the organization.
500 employees were hired in the initial batch, with candidates coming from the state’s 23 local government regions, according to Ortom.
During the passing out procession conducted at IBB Square in Makurdi, the new recruits were introduced.
The governor said that the federal government’s failure to disarm the Fulani terrorists led to his administration’s decision to establish the security organization.
Ortom said, “Benue State has been especially targeted because of the historic episode of 1804, but also because my administration’s insistence on the Rule of Law rather than rule of terror and for always standing with my people in their refusal to surrender their land, identity and Judeo-Christian faith and values to the Islamization agenda.
“Given the fact that the Federal Government has consistently failed to disarm the Fulani terrorists who have continued to maim and kill our people at will, the State Government is going to apply for a License to legally procure AK47, AK49 and other sophisticated weapons for the Benue State Volunteers Guards to enable them tackle these murderous terrorists effectively.
“To do this effectively, the Benue State Government had approved a two-week capacity building programme for Five Hundred (500) personnel of the Community Volunteer Guards to learn some basic paramilitary aspects. The training which began on 29th June, 2022 with five hundred (500) participants drawn from the 23 Local Government Areas and the three Senatorial Districts ended on 12th July, 2022.
“A date for the Batch 2 would also be announced as soon as possible.”
The governor emphasized that “the issue of banditry, kidnapping, robbery, and most importantly, the issue of terrorist Fulani herdsmen attack would be reduced to the barest minimum” in his optimistic statement regarding the state’s improvement following the presentation of the security apparatus.
He promised that the law will rigorously govern the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards’ operations and issued a warning that any employees discovered breaking the law would be given the boot right away.
To ensure that the Volunteer Guards could operate as effectively as possible, 30 functional vehicles and 200 communication tools were purchased.
