By Sunday Iduh
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has said his request to the Federal Government (FG) for licence to equip the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards (BSCVG) with sophisticated weapons has been turned down.
He disclosed this Monday while receiving members of National Union of Benue State Students (NUBESS), who were on a solidarity march in Makurdi. According to him, “the Federal Government cited relevant sections of the constitution to back up its action. As a law abiding citizen, I have accepted the decision.”
Governor Ortom, however, said the people of the state should acquire lawful weapons for self defense against attacks by the enemies of the state.
The governor, who joined the students to condemn the remarks credited to former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar over the Gbeji killings, expressed appreciation to the students for their show of solidarity and gave assurances that his administration was open to accommodate youths with innovative ideas that will add value to the state.
He called on them to shun negative vices and be of good behaviour, stating that they represent the future and hope of the state.
Earlier, in a remark, the NUBESS President, Gaius Injorovkaa, who led other students on the peaceful solidarity march, condemned the Gbeji attack and the statement of presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Abubakar over the killing in Gbeji. He demanded a public apology from the former vice president.
NUBESS called on president Muhammadu Buhari to urgently address the precarious security situation in Benue State and other states of the federation.
The student body used the opportunity to appeal for the payment of their bursary allowance, in order to mitigate the impact of the economic hardship and pledged their unflinching support to the governor.