Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has proscribed vigilante groups illegally operating in the state and directed that anyone seen wearing the groups’ uniforms should be arrested and prosecuted.
A statement from the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, and made available to journalists in Makurdi said the proscription takes immediate effect.
The Governor said the Benue State Volunteer Guards which law was enacted in the year 2000 and was recently adopted for full enforcement by the state security council and other stakeholders would be constituted.
Governor Ortom had met with the State Commissioner of Police, State Director Department of State Security Service, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Special Adviser on Security Matters, as well as Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Internal Affairs just as some members of the disbanded Benue State Vigilante Group were also present at the meeting.
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Benue State Volunteer Guards personnel who are to be recruited from kindred levels, according to the Governor, are mandated by law, to complement conventional security agencies.
Governor Ortom enjoined members of the disbanded Vigilante who are interested in joining the Community Volunteer Guards to go to their kindreds to be properly enrolled.
He directed his Senior Special Assistant on Security, Simon Iwar to oversee the new formation with the active supervision of Security Adviser, Col Paul Hemba rtd.
Benue State Community Volunteer Guards is an offshoot of the law to provide for the establishment of community volunteer guards (Vigilante) and for purposes connected therewith, 2000.
