The Benue State government will formally submit an application to President Muhammadu Buhari this week for the approval to get licences to procure AK-47 and AK-49 riffles by members of the newly established Benue State Community Volunteer Guards.
Ortom spoke yesterday at a reception organised by the President of Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Cosmas Idye, marking his 35 years of marriage and call to the Bar of his son, Marcel Idye.
He said the state government did not contravene the Constitution of the Federal Republic and the right to have passed the law establishing the security outfit.
Ortom said the state’s law establishing the community volunteer guards was designed to assist the conventional security agencies in fighting crime.
He added: “As long as we make laws that are not in conflict with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, we are right in establishing the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards.”
Ortom said his office had concluded the necessary arrangements to forward the letter to President Buhari, who he acknowledged is constitutionally empowered to grant such licences.
The governor hoped the President would give it a “favourable consideration”.