The newly formed Benue State Community Volunteer Guards, which were founded last week to conduct surveillance and intelligence gathering in the aftermath of frequent herdsmen attacks, have requested a handgun licence in a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari.
Ortom, who made this announcement on Monday while hosting a delegation from the Northern Christian Women Coalition at the Makurdi Government House, said the action was required after the Guards were legitimately established to aid in restoring peace to the state's difficult areas.
He claimed that the President he knows would agree to his request, or at the very least, provide opportunity for a reasonable level of response on the defences of his people.
The governor stated at the guards' introduction last week that they are intended to address neighbourhood security and safety.
He claims that the establishment of the volunteer guards ahead of the general elections in 2023 was not motivated by politics.
The governor warned the volunteer guards' members to resist the inclination to abuse the authority granted to them by state law.