The chief of defence staff, Lucky Irabor, has warned that state government do not have the powers to procure automatic weapons for their security outfits.
He gave the warning while briefing journalists after the national security council (NSC) meeting in Abuja, on Friday.
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue had while inaugurating the first batch of personnel of the state’s security outfit said “sophisticated weapons” would be provided for them. Similarly, Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state had also said the state will procure arms for operatives of the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun.
But speaking on the development, Irabor said the licence for the procurement of automatic weapons — such as AK-47 — lies with the agencies of the federal government.
“Firearms fall into two major categories. You have the automatic weapons and the ones that we may classify as non-automatic weapons, which some of you may even have if you have the appropriate licences — talking about the pump action which are the very common ones, and sometimes even the dane guns some of the hunters use,” he said.
“What is involved in the class mentioned has to do with automatic weapons. There’s no state that has been given licence for that.
“So, you do not ask for what you do not have power to acquire,” the defence chief stated.
