By Linus Aleke
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen Lucky Irabor yesterday said the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies do not take orders from state governments.

The disclosure stemmed from the Zamfara State Government’s offer to assist willing citizens to procure weapons to defend themselves from armed terrorists and bandits operating in the state

The government’s offer was a sequel to the increasing and uncontrollable activities of terrorists and bandits in Zamfara communities including the collection of taxes and levies from farmers.

Zamfara also ordered the state Commissioner of Police to grant licenses to qualified citizens willing to bear arms, to defend themselves against these vicious non-state actors terrorizing the state.

But the CDS noted that the state government does not have the power to ask the CP to issue licenses to citizens to bear arms.

Irabor said this while fielding questions from reporters during the Joint Exercise for the National Defence College and War Colleges of the Armed Forces of Nigeria code-named Operation Grand National, in Abuja.

According to him, “We do not take instruction from the state governments. We have a Commander-in-Chief. The constitution gives the right and powers to the C-in-C for the use of the armed forces and I believe what we are doing in Zamfara State and across the states of the federation is different from the provisions of the constitution.

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“We are there to give support to the civil authority in this case, the police. We are there to ensure that peace returns to Zamfara. The governor does not have the power to ask the CP to issue licenses. I am yet to get the details but I do not think that is the right thing to do.”

The Chief of Defence Staff further said, “I do not see the basis. My view is that the AGF will look at the Constitution and what the constitution says. That’s the right way to go. The armed forces are in Zamfara but beyond that, I believe there are legal issues that should be addressed using the instrumentality of the law to bring peace and security.

“I believe that the federal government through the Attorney General should look at the details of the press release. If what I read is true, I do not believe that the governor has the power to instruct the CP to issue the license because the CP does not have the power to issue licenses. Like I said the AGF will do much about it.”

He continued, “We have the armed forces in Zamfara, military, police, NSCDC but beyond that, I believe there are legal issues.”