The federal government has not authorized any state to buy automatic weapons for their security outfits.
This was revealed by the spokesperson to the Malam Garba Shehu in a statement on Tuesday.
Last week, Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu tackled the federal government over its opposition to the proposed use of arms by the Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun Corps) while allowing its equivalent in Katsina state to bear weapons.
On Monday, Akeredolu expressed his commitment to equipping Amotekun with rifles.
The governor said the refusal of the right of Amotekun to bear arms to protect the people of the state violated the tenets of federalism.
In its reaction on Tuesday, the Presidency said President Buhari had said many times that nobody is allowed to illegally carry AK-47 or any other automatic weapons.
The statement said, “Where they fail to do so, the law enforcement agencies have been given clear directives to deal with any such outlaws.”
He said under the existing regulations, only the Office of the National Security Adviser could issue such authorization, upon proper clearance by the President and Commander-in-Chief, adding that “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.’
“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.
“The President in particular has expressed happiness that in the last couple of years, security outfits mandated by state governments have been associated with several important initiatives, and reports have reached him of acts of utmost bravery and professionalism.
“He thanks them for their alertness that is helping to defeat nefarious plots against targets at grassroots levels.
“Government at the centre with a national mandate cannot afford to alienate Ondo State or any other state for that matter on the important issue of security and urges leaders at various levels to exercise restraint in their speech, even as we are in a political season.”
