The presidency on Tuesday, shunned calls in some quarters to provide arms for the state security outfits to enable them combat insecurity in the country.
Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Garba Shehu,conveyed this in a statement.
He explained that there is no state the federation, that has been authorized to procure automatic weapons for their security outfits.
Shehu said under the current 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.
He said where they fail to do so, the law enforcement agencies have been given clear directives to deal with any such outlaws.
According to the presidency, 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,” he added.
He noted that the Presidency appreciates the active involvement of states with security matters.
He added: “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”.
Shehu also said the President appreciates them for their alertness that is helping to defeat nefarious plots against targets at grassroots levels.
He cautioned against the politicization of security,adding that 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.
The Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu had been advocating for the Federal Government to approve arms for the South- West controlled security outfit, Amotekun.