Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State on Monday disclosed that he has written to President Muhammadu Buhari, seeking approval for firearm licensing to acquire arms for the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards which was inaugurated last week by the governor as the local security outfit for the state.
Ortom , hosting a delegation from the Northern Christian Women Coalition at the Government House, Makurdi, on Monday, explained that he wrote to the President because of the legitimate process of establishing the Guards to restore peace in Benue State. They have the mandate to provide surveillance and intelligence to contain the perennial attacks by herdsmen.
The governor expressed optimism that President Buhari would approve the request to also empower his people to enable the state government to empower the locals to defend the state.