The Vigilant Group of Nigeria (VGN) Sunday said its members were not banned from bearing arms by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Security Committee.
According to the group, it is impossible to carry out the task its members undertake without arms.
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It said the arms used by its personnel were duly registered by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Navy Captain Umar Bakori (rtd), the Commander-General of the VGN, was reacting to a circular issued by the Security Committee.
The FCT Security Committee had, last week, introduced a Code of Conduct for vigilance groups operating in the territory, placing a ban on the use of firearms by their members.
Addressing journalists in Abuja at the weekend, Bakori said: “Our men are posted to secure the schools in the FCT, we are in all the schools including the University of Abuja and we can’t do this without arms.
“The Vigilance Group of Nigeria is doing a lot behind the scene to ensure that our country is secured.
“For instance, since the US issued the terror alert, we’ve not slept, our men have been deployed all over the FCT collaborating with other security agencies.
“We are also present in all the states of the Federation, in the South West, our members are part of the Amotekun, in the Southeast, they are also part of Ebubeagu”.
