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General News of Saturday, 1 October 2022

Source: legit.ng

Insecurity: Who gave Katsina vigilantes AK-47? - APC governor asks presidency, draws battleline

Rotimi Akeredolu Rotimi Akeredolu

The governor of Ondo, Rotimi Akeredolu, has given his take on the presidency's refusal to approve the use of sophisticated weapons for the Amotekun corps in the state.

In a statement released on Wednesday, September 28, by the state government, Akeredolu noted that in the face of worsening insecurity across Nigeria, security outfits must be allowed to carry live ammunition to challenge bandits who inflict pain on innocent citizens, The Cable reports.

Governor Akeredolu made it clear that the presidency's reluctance to permit the use of arms “can no longer be plausible in the face of increasing security challenges being faced by the people”.

Who gave Katsina state vigilante AK-47?

The governor expressed wonder that the same arms refused for Amotekun were seen on air carried by the vigilantes of Katsina state.

Wondering what the AK47 guns used by the vigilantes in Katsina were for and how they were approved, Akeredolu said: “The report by the TVC News that went viral showed the Kastina State Vigilante training with AK47. This is the same weapon whose approval has vehemently been refused for the use of Amotekun Corps and other State Security Outfits.

“The questions Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, asks are: Where did the guns come from? Who approved their use? Were the guns returned to the armoury after use? The AK47, as seen from the TVC news report, was about usage. If not, what purpose does training with the guns serve?

“It is rather suspicious that Garba Shehu elected himself as the spokesperson for the Kastina State government, whereas, the Katsina State has not come out openly to deny the statement of Governor Akeredolu on the use of AK47 by Vigilantes of Katsina State during training."