A former director with the Department of State Services, Mike Ejiofor, has urged the Federal Government to allow state-owned security outfits bear prohibited firearms like AK-47 so that they can match up with the assault rifles of non-state actors like bandits and terrorists.

“This is one of the best ways the Federal Government should even help check crimes. Allow these well, formal, established security outfits like Amotekun, virtually all states have their own vigilante and security outfits, allow them to carry these prohibited firearms, they will be more effective because they are close to the ground than the police.

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“We need to arm these well-established and organized security outfits if we don’t want to give arms to private citizens,” Ejiofor said on a Channels programme on Saturday.

He argued that well-established and organised security outfits like Amotekun, Ebubeagu, Benue Guards, and private outfits deployed to banks will be more effective if allowed to bear prohibited firearms.

He said more violence is likely to be recorded in the country as campaigns start on September 28 because politicians know they can no longer manipulate election results.

Ejiofor said organised security outfits are meant to complement the efforts of the police to secure the country but noted that private-owned security firms and their regional counterparts won’t be effective if not licensed to bear assault rifles.