The move by Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu and other governors planning to procure arms like AK-47 and other sophisticated weapons have hit the rock as Federal Government on Friday said state governors are not allowed under the law to purchase for or arm anyone or group with such weapons.
The Federal Government also clarified that it didn’t grant the Katsina State Government the right to arm local vigilante group in the state as widely reported in the media.
The Nation quoted FG while responding to recent threats by Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu and Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom to arm their state security outfits with AK-47 following alleged approval given Katsina State by the federal authorities to acquire such guns for its vigilance group.
FRESHPAGE.COM.NG recalls that a group of Yoruba Intellectuals based in North America had also recently thrown it’s weight behind Governor Akeredolu for demanding FG’s approval of sophisticated weapons for use by Amotekun in the South West.
While clarifying the issue, Chief of Defence of Staff, General Lucky Irabor declared that no state or state governor in Nigeria has authority to acquire weapons of the caliber they were clamouring for.
The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola and Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi submitted that the procurement and deployment of sophisticated weapons like AK-47 was strictly responsibility of federal government security agencies.
