By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi
Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has assented to the Community Volunteer Guards Law 2004 as amended.
The Governor who performed the ceremony on Tuesday at the Government House Makurdi explained that the amended potion of the law will allow members of the Guards to carry arms in the course of their duties.
According to the Governor following the amended law, members of the volunteer Guards would complement the efforts of the conventional security operatives to tackle insecurity.
“As a law abiding citizen, I have decided to look for ways to complement the efforts of the conventional security agents”.
To this end, Governor Ortom directed the Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Internal Affairs and Special Services to commence immediate recruitment of five abled young men of between the ages of 18 and 19 in each Kindred as members.
He enjoined the people of the state to support the Guards as well as conventional security operatives to enable them figt criminality, banditry, kidnapping among others.
Earlier, the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Benue State, Mr Michael Gusa contended that the old law had some lapses, hence the need to amend it.
