The law establishing the State Community Volunteer Guards 2000, as amended, according to Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, will give the body teeth to help combat security challenges in the state.
The Governor spoke at the New Banquet Hall, Benue Peoples House Makurdi, on Tuesday, October 26th, 2021, while assenting to the amended law on Community Volunteer Guards enacted in the year 2000.
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Governor Ortom urged relevant agencies to complete the recruitment of personnel into the volunteer Corps as soon as possible if it had not already been completed.
Five people from each kindred in the state, ranging in age from 18 to 50, will be selected to serve in the Community Volunteer Guards.
While emphasizing that security agents are woefully inadequate and must be supplemented in the fight against insecurity, the Governor stated that guard recruitment would be overseen by traditional rulers because it is a community-based process.
The Governor bemoaned the kidnapping and detention of six Benue youngsters in Zamfara by rebels, claiming that the children had been assisted by their parents in obtaining an education and were subsequently kidnapped on their route to the mandated National Youth Service Corps, NYSC.
He noted that those who gave their lives for the preservation of Benue land are the true Benue Valley defenders, emphasizing that history will remember them forever.
While presenting the amended law for assent, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Benue State, Barrister Michael Gusa, said the modifications accommodated a new command structure and allowed for the use of authorized arms as defined in the firearms Act.
Deputy Governor, Engineer Benson Abounu, presented Governor Samuel Ortom with different accolades before to the start of the State Executive Council meeting, while Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Mrs Ladi-Ajene Isegbe, offered her resignation to pursue further political ambitions.