The Benue State Government has set a goal of recruiting 10,000 people to serve in the State Community Volunteer Guards.
Governor Samuel Ortom made the announcement yesterday at the funeral of his foster father, Elder Joseph Vanger Iyorhon, which was held at St. Athanasius Parish in Gbajimba, the headquarters of Guma Local Government Area.
The governor assured the people that his administration would continue to protect lives and property.
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He explained that the recruitment of 10,000 community volunteer guards is intended to supplement the efforts of traditional security agencies in providing state security.
According to Ortom, 500 personnel have already been recruited and outfitted, while 1,000 are undergoing training and will be formally inaugurated in the coming weeks at a passing out parade in Makurdi.
He then urged the state’s youth to be prepared to join the security outfit so that they could work together with conventional security agencies to defeat the terrorists who had infiltrated the state.
He stated that the time has come for everyone to contribute to the state’s security because, as he puts it, the security agencies are overburdened.
The governor, who attended the funeral with his wife, Dr. Eunice Ortom, described the deceased as a community leader who believed in God.
According to the governor, his political career began when the late Elder Iyorhon identified and encouraged him to run for the position of Chairman of Guma Local Government Council.
The Governor acknowledged that the deceased’s unwavering support over the years had greatly contributed to his political success.
