President, Association of Licensed Private Guard Practitioners of Nigeria, Wilson Esangbado on Monday called for legislations that would empower private guards to bear firearms and be part of the nation’s security architecture.
Esangbado who made the call in Abuja on the sidelines of a bye-election of the chairmanship of the FCT chapter of the association.
According to him, in other parts of the world where private guards are allowed to bear arms, it enhances security as they work in synergy with security agencies to ensure the safety of lives and property.
“You discover that over 150,000 policemen are working as escorts and diplomatic police. They can be withdrawn to resume normal police duties while well trained licensed private guards can carry out this function and work in synergy with security agencies to promote security.
“This is what’s happening in Israel, Kenya and other parts of the globe. Why not Nigeria?”
A retired Commissioner of Police and immediate past chairman of the ALSPSN, FCT chapter, Lawrence Alobi, allayed fears over accidental discharge, saying if private guards are empowered to carry arms, only those trained, evaluated and equipped with the requisite capacity would be allowed to do so.
The newly inaugurated FCT chairman of the ALSPSN, Shehu Abdulahi, stressed the need for unity of purpose to make licensed private guards stand out in the security architecture of the country.