The Nigerian authorities have not lifted the embargo on the issuance of fresh firearms licences imposed on the police since 2013, it was learnt.
The Nigerian government has not yet issued a rifles licence to the South-West security outfit, Amotekun, giving indications that the newly launched Community Volunteer Guards by Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State may not be able to bear AK-47 rifles at the moment.
The Nigerian authorities have not lifted the embargo on the issuance of fresh firearms licences imposed on the police since 2013, it was learnt.
The South-West governors had while establishing the Amotekun Corps expressed their desire to arm the members of the vigilance group.
They had written to the Inspector-General of Police to secure a licence for the Amotekun Corps, but the request, according to findings by PUNCH, has yet to be approved.
Sources in the Nigerian police disclosed that there was no plan to lift the embargo any time soon due to the deteriorating security situation across the country.
The sources maintained that there was no possibility of lifting the embargo, saying that though there were plans by the governors to write to President Muhammadu Buhari, it may not yield any positive result.
SaharaReporters had on Thursday reported that Governor Ortom launched the Community Volunteer Guards and promised to legally procure Ak-47, Ak-49 and other sophisticated weapons for the guards to effectively combat terrorists and armed Fulani herders in the state.
Ortom had on Thursday night while featuring on Arise TV interview said that “The issue of AK-47, AK-49 and other weapons are the prerogative of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. That is why in my inauguration speech today, I said we will seek, and by tomorrow, I’m submitting a letter to the president to grant a licence for AK-47, AK49 to our community volunteer guards.”
Recall that Governors Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State and Aminu Masari of Katsina State had asked the residents of their respective states to procure arms and defend themselves from terrorists and bandits.
However, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, had opposed Matawalle's directives for the Commissioner of Police to issue gun licenses to residents who requested for it. But even after CDS's opposition to directives, Governor Matawalle insisted that residents of the state must carry guns.