Insecurity: Anambra private guards to carry arms

David-Chyddy Eleke, Awka

Private security guards in Anambra State under the aegis of Private Guards Companies (PGC) will soon bear arms to help them perform the task of protecting their clients, Hallmark has learnt.

It was gathered that the thorny issue is currently being discussed between the Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano and the leadership of Private Security Guards through the office of the special assistant to the governor on security.

The chairman of the group in Anambra State, Chief Maduka Atueyi, disclosed this to journalists yesterday, saying that very soon, officers of Private Guards Companies will be given the opportunity to carry arms, just as they will attend special trainings that will aid them.

He said that part of the problems facing private security outfits in Anambra is because they do not carry arms, which make people look down on their abilities.

“People always think that because we do not carry arms, we cannot do the job we are trained for, but they do not understand that even without arms we can do our work, and there are many instances in which private guards with their bare hands have disarmed criminals.

“We are trained to perform our work even without arms, but we still believe that being armed will help us a lot. The Act establishing Private Guards Companies does not empower them to be armed, but these days it is different in states, so I can tell you that our men will soon begin to carry arms in Anambra.

“We have met with the special adviser to the governor on security, and he is currently working it out with the governor to arm our men, and I can assure you that very soon it will be possible for our men to carry arms.”

Atueyi, while speaking on some other challenges facing Private Guards Companies in Anambra, said, “It is a fact that members of the vigilante services have taken over the job of private security guards”.

He said that vigilantes should be people who do community policing in rural locations, but today they can be found almost everywhere acting as private security men, working in restaurants and usually brandishing guns.