Presidency: No state has power to procure arms for security outfit

The Presidency says no state in the country has been authorised to procure weapons for their security outfits.

This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

The Presidency made this known in reaction to Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu’s statement, who said the denial of the Western Security Network, Amotekun Corps, the right to bear arms by the Federal Government exposes South-West to life-threatening marauders and organised crime.

The governor, in a statement last Thursday, alleged Katsina State was allowed to arm its state security force, with the display of AK-47, stressing that the Amotekun Corps in the South-West region of the country must not be denied the same.

Akeredolu, who is the Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, added that denying Amotekun the urgently needed right to bear arms is a repudiation of the basis of true federalism.

However, Shehu, on Tuesday, said President Muhammadu Buhari had said no citizen is allowed to illegally carry an AK-47 or any other automatic weapons.

The presidential spokesman added that only the Office of the National Security Adviser can issue such authorisation, upon clearance by the President, stressing that no such approvals have been issued to any state government.

The statement read: “The Presidency wishes to strongly assert that there is no state, not Katsina, not any other state in the federation that has been authorised to procure automatic weapons for their security outfits.

“Under this administration, the President has repeatedly made it clear that nobody is allowed to illegally carry AK-47 or any other automatic weapons and that they must surrender them.

“Where they fail to do so, the law enforcement agencies have been given clear directives to deal with any such outlaws.

“Under the existing regulations, only the Office of the National Security Adviser can issue such authorisation, upon proper clearance by the President and Commander-in-Chief and as it is at this moment, no such approvals have been issued to any state government.

“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,’ emphasising 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.’

“The Presidency appreciates the active involvement of states with security matters.

“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 politicisation 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,” Shehu stated.

The Star