As northern governors tasked hunters and vigilantes on intelligence gathering and rapid response, the National President of Professional Hunters Of Nigeria, Alh. Muhammad Abdullahi aka ‘’Baba Gombi’’ said that they are battle-ready to assist in the fight against insecurity,” if state governments are ready to provide us with logistics supports.”
Reacting on the move by the northern governors, the president of the hunters said with thousands of hunters, armed with charmed amulets and intimate knowledge of harsh terrain, ‘’ We are prepared for an offensive against kidnappers, Boko Haram extremists and other criminals who have ravaged the northeast for in the recent time,’’ calling it “high time” they can help security operatives to end kidnappings.
‘’ We only need support and encouragement from various state governors and relevant authorities; we have members virtually in all nooks and crannies that can help in intelligence gatherings and rapid response.
‘’ We have been doing it and battle-ready to fight the bandits and other criminals in our societies’’ said he.
He recalled that‘’ Only recently in Adamawa our members were honored by the state police command.
‘’ I and other members were honored by the state commissioner in recognition of our contributions to the fight against crime in the state.
‘’ I can recall vividly, presenting the awards, Olubenga Adeyanju, Commissioner of police in the state said local hunters and vigilantes have sacrificed their lives to assist in the fight against crimes which led to much success, adding that with their supports the command had made tremendous achievements by dislodging kidnappers, Shila Boys, armed robbers and cattle rustlers from their hideouts and arrested many,’’ Baba Gombi recalls.
Baba Gombi, however, regrets that despite their sacrifice hunters and other local volunteers were either snubbed or neglected by the governments and community they serve, ‘’ It’s unfortunate to note that, despite the facts that we sacrificed our dear lives to assist in the fight against crimes, many were neglected by their local authorities and also the community they worked for.
‘’ Many of our members were killed by bandits, Boko Haram and other criminals. However, their families are now languishing without any support to cater to their needs.
‘’ Nobody thinks to form or launch any endowment fund to cater for the bereaved family; though I learned that somehow Borno and Yobe states have been assisting our hunters and that’s great,’’ he noted.
Disturbed by insecurity plaguing the region, the Northern Governors Forum (NGF) has set up a committee to engage local vigilantes, hunters and community watch groups on intelligence gathering, rapid response and sustained surveillance in the region.
The chairman of the Forum, Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau said this in a statement issued by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr Makut Macham said the engagement was part of the resolutions of the Northern Governors on teleconference meeting held, on Thursday, over the security challenges in the region.
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