Ortom: Governors working with FG to implement state policing

Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue, says state governments and the federal government are currently working to achieve state policing.

The call for Nigerian states to have their respective police forces has increased over the years as governors identified the move as a solution to the country’s security challenges.

But President Muhammadu Buhari ruled out state police in January, saying “it is not an option”.

Speaking at the passing-out of the second batch of Benue community volunteer guards on Thursday in Markurdi, Ortom said the federal government has started working with the governors towards implementing state police.

“State Governments are currently working with the Federal Government of Nigeria towards moving from community policing to State Police,” he said.

“When this eventually becomes a reality we will give the current Community Volunteer Guards the pre-emptive rights to join the State Police. That is, the first right of first refusal.”

Benue inaugurated the volunteer guards in August with 500 officers.

Adding another 1,100 personnel to the state’s security outfit, Ortom said the state government is waiting on the approval of the federal government to procure arms for the volunteer guards.

“I have on behalf of the Benue State Government applied to the responsible Federal Government Agency for approval to procure automatic weapons, particularly AK47 Assault Rifles to further strengthen your logistic support base and your defence capability,” the governor said.

“I am still awaiting approval from the Federal Government to deal accordingly.”