Insecurity: Presidency Acknowledges State Owned Security Outfits

By Ayodele Oni

The Presidency has justified move by States to set up security outfit to collaborate with other agencies to tackle insecurity.

It however kicked against attempt to equip personnel of state owned security outfits with sophisticated weapons.

 A statement by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant on media to the president, the power to grant approval for weapons still rests squarely with the presidency.

Reacting to claim that Katsina has been granted permission to arm its security personnel while request by Ondo was not granted, the statement explained that no State is enjoying such priviledge for now.

Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu had insisted that state owned personnel of Amotekun security corps will be equipped to fight insecurity.

 According to the Presidency, nobody is allowed to illegally carry AK-47 or any other automatic weapons and that they must surrender them.

The Presidency added that under the existing regulation, only the Office of the National Security Adviser could issue such authorization, upon proper clearance by the President and Commander-in-Chief.

The statement reads, “In the specific Katsina State often cited, the Governor, Aminu Bello Masari wrote to explain that the administration invited the Provost of the Civil Defence Training College in Katsina to train their Vigilantes for a five-day period ‘in the handling and operations of Pump Action Rifles,’ emphasizing that ‘the Vigilantes were not trained to take over the responsibilities of the security agencies of the Federal Government of Nigeria but to assist them.’

“As they continue to expand their capabilities as well as their active collaboration with law enforcement agencies of the federation, the joint efforts continue to yield good results, thwarting attempts of terrorists to wreak havoc and destruction on communities.

“The President in particular has expressed happiness that in the last couple of years, security outfits mandated by state governments have been associated with several important initiatives, and reports have reached him of acts of utmost bravery and professionalism.

“He thanks them for their alertness that is helping to defeat nefarious plots against targets at grassroots levels. He, however, cautions against the politicization of security.

“Government at the centre with a national mandate cannot afford to alienate Ondo State or any other state for that matter on the important issue of security and urges leaders at various levels to exercise restraint in their speech, even as we are in a political season.”