Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum has inducted new 1,000 hunters into the reactive force in the ongoing war against the Boko Haram.
The hunters, who were newly engaged, according to a statement on Thursday, 29 July, 2021 by the spokesman to the Governor, Mallam Isa Gusau, are to provide dedicated protection to farmers who cultivate crops in outskirts of Jere, where over 70 farmers were killed in November 2020 as well as farms in parts of Maiduguri metropolis, Konduga and Mafa Local Government Areas.
Gusau recalled that his boss has since 2019, engaged the services of thousands of hunters drawn from different parts of northern Nigeria, to join volunteers in the civilian JTF and vigilantes.
He noted that the governor also increased and automated monthly allowances of all volunteers, provided kits, surveillance tools and allocated hundreds of vehicles to units in all of Borno’s 27 local government areas.
According to him, the induction of the latest 1,000 additional hunters was done at Gongulong ward, weeks after each of them completed security vetting by the DSS and the military. The event was attended by Secretary to Borno state Government, Usman Jidda Shuwa; the state Head of Service, Barr. Simon Malgwi; commissioners; and other government officials.
Zulum said: “Our local hunters have become part of our success story because of their active involvement in trying to address the security challenges we have been facing in the state. This largely prompted us to engage in the recruitment of more hunters to assist our gallant military in their undeniable and commendable efforts to end the insurgency.”
In a welcome address, member representing Jere Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Satomi Ahmed lauded Zulum for his foresight and determination to secure lives and property of Borno people.
The Governor has been combining mass recruitment and equipping of more counter insurgency volunteers into the Civilian JTF, hunters, and vigilantes, with support for the Nigerian Armed forces, and provision of education, and socio economic support to vulnerable persons across the state.
