The Presidency has Refuted Claims to Automatic Weapons for States Security Outfits.

The Presidency has refuted claims that some states have been authorized to buy automatic weapons for their security outfits after the Governor of Ondo State Rotimi Akeredolu alleged that if the Federal Government could allow a security outfit in Katsina State to carry arms, nothing should stop him from doing the same for officers of Amotekun.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on media and publicity Garba Shehu yesterday said there is no state that has been authorized to procure automatic weapons for their security outfits adding that 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 explained that the Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari wrote to explain that the administration invited the Provost of the Civil Defense 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 but to assist them.