The Benue State security outfit known as Community Volunteer Guards has lost nine of its personnel.
The Commander of the guard, Captain Ayuma Ajobi (retd.), disclosed this during the inauguration of the headquarters office complex located within the seat of government on Friday.
The state security outfit was inaugurated in August 2022 with the purpose of complementing conventional security operatives in combating insecurity occasioned by herdsmen’s attack.
The commander said the state government was only able to procure 1,000 pump action rifles for the personnel, six of which he said had been stolen from deceased members.
Ajobi said, “The command has unfortunately suffered a casualty figure of nine of its trained personnel. Of this number, eight were killed in active service at their various duty locations while the last member died after a brief illness.
“The Benue State Government has procured a total of 1,000 (one thousand) Pump action rifles and 20,000 pieces of cartridges.
“These were given to the Nigeria Police Benue State Command for safekeeping in the police armoury. The weapons have been distributed to various divisions across the 23 local government areas of the state for protective custody.”