No person or security organization, not even Amotekun is permitted to carry an AK-47 rifle or any other automatic weapons, according to the Presidency.
According to Anaedoonline.ng, the President’s spokesperson, Garba Shehu, announced this in a statement on Tuesday in response to remarks made by Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
Recall that Akeredolu had accused the Federal Government of permitting the security group in Kastina State to carry weapons while refusing the same opportunity to members of the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun.
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However, if the government agrees to permit a security organization in Katsina to carry weapons, the governor has pledged to buy weapons for Amotekun agents.
In response to the news, the Presidency stated that no state has received permission to purchase automatic weapons for its security force and that it is still against the law to possess firearms in the nation.
It made clear that only the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), after receiving proper approval from President Muhammadu Buhari, is authorized to give such a permit.
The Presidency clarified that the video and pictures of Katsina vigilantes carrying weapons were misinterpreted, highlighting the fact that the operators had merely received training in using rifles.
According to the report, Governor Aminu Bello Masari wrote to clarify that his administration had invited the president of the Katsina Civil Defense Training College to instruct their vigilantes on how to handle and use pump action rifles.
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The statement reads: “The Presidency wishes to strongly assert that there is no state, not Katsina, not any other state in the federation, that has been authorized to procure automatic weapons for their security outfits.
“Under this administration, the President has repeatedly made it clear that nobody is allowed to illegally carry AK-47 or any other automatic weapons and that they must surrender them.
“Under the existing regulations, only the Office of the National Security Adviser can issue such authorization, upon proper clearance by the President and Commander-in-Chief and as it is at this moment, no such approvals have been issued to any state government.
“In the specific Katsina State often cited, the Governor, Aminu Bello Masari wrote to explain that the administration invited the Provost of the Civil Defence Training College in Katsina to train their Vigilantes for a five-day period…. ‘in the handling and operations of Pump Action Rifles,’ emphasizing that “the Vigilantes were not trained to take over the responsibilities of the security agencies of the Federal Government of Nigeria but to assist them.
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“The President appreciates the active involvement of states with security matters. As they continue to expand their capabilities as well as their active collaboration with law enforcement agencies of the federation, the joint efforts continue to yield good results, thwarting attempts of terrorists to wreak havoc and destruction on communities.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has received reports of acts of utmost bravery and professionalism by operatives of state security outfits. He thanks them for their alertness that is helping to defeat nefarious plots against targets at grassroots levels.
“Furthermore, the President called on leaders at various levels to exercise restraint in their speech, even as we are in a political season.”
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