10,000 hunters gather in Nigeria’s North-East, seek clearance to confront Boko Haram in Sambisa Forest
An estimated 10,000 local hunters from the
North-east of Nigeria gathered recently in
Adamawa State for their annual oath-taking
festival, known as Salala in the local
parlance.
The hunters, dressed in their warfare attires,
and with their Dane guns dangling over their
shoulders, vowed to rid the society of
criminals.
They appealed to the government to make use
of their members in the fight against
terrorism and other social vices.
The leader of the hunters in Adamawa,
Muhammad Tola, who claimed the hunters
had so far played significant roles in the fight
against Boko Haram, said hunters were
familiar with the terrain in dreaded forests,
like the Sambisa forest.
“We are ready to pursue the terrorists because
we know the terrain very well,” Mr. Tola
said.
“We are appealing to the military authorities
to allow us join the fight against Boko Haram
at the Sambisa forest.”
Mr. Tola said the hunters needed the
government to assist them with ammunition,
transportation and logistics.
He said the government could also enlist
young hunters who were willing to join the
army, police, and other security agencies.
“We remain one big family devoid of
religious or tribal sentiments, that is why you
can see over 10,000 hunters from Taraba,
Gombe, Bauchi, Borno, Yoba and Adamawa
converged for this epoch-making event,” Mr.
Tola said.
Female hunters also participated in the Salala
festival.
The leader of the female hunters, Aisha Bakari Gombi, said
securing the society was a fight for everyone, irrespective of
gender.
“This is a clarion call. We all must make sacrifices,” she
said.
Babangida Muhammad, the Sarkin Gida, who represented
the Paramount Ruler of Adamawa, Muhammadu Mustapha,
in the festival, said there was need for government to engage
the services of the hunters and other vigilantes in the fight
against social vices.
Hunters in Borno State had on January 3 called on the
military to allow them join the war against Boko Haram
insurgents in the dreaded Sambisa Forest.
“We are appealing to the military authorities to allow us join
the fight against Boko Haram at the Sambisa forest,” Mai-
Gana Mai-Durma, the Borno Emir of the Hunters, made the
appeal in Maiduguri while addressing journalists at the time.
“We are ready to pursue the terrorists because we know the
terrain very well.”
Mr. Mai-Durma said that the military should align them with
members of the vigilante group, popularly known as the
Civilian JTF, for effective result.
“We will overrun Sambisa in partnership with members of
the civilian JTF if given the opportunity,” he said.
The Adamawa State Government had in November 2014
announced that it was officially enlisting the services of
local hunters and vigilantes, called Civilian JTF, to liberate
communities captured by Boko Haram insurgents.
Shortly afterwards the local hunters were reported to have
recaptured Maiha and Mubi local governments, killing at
least 75 Boko Haram militants in the process.
North-east of Nigeria gathered recently in
Adamawa State for their annual oath-taking
festival, known as Salala in the local
parlance.
The hunters, dressed in their warfare attires,
and with their Dane guns dangling over their
shoulders, vowed to rid the society of
criminals.
They appealed to the government to make use
of their members in the fight against
terrorism and other social vices.
The leader of the hunters in Adamawa,
Muhammad Tola, who claimed the hunters
had so far played significant roles in the fight
against Boko Haram, said hunters were
familiar with the terrain in dreaded forests,
like the Sambisa forest.
“We are ready to pursue the terrorists because
we know the terrain very well,” Mr. Tola
said.
“We are appealing to the military authorities
to allow us join the fight against Boko Haram
at the Sambisa forest.”
Mr. Tola said the hunters needed the
government to assist them with ammunition,
transportation and logistics.
He said the government could also enlist
young hunters who were willing to join the
army, police, and other security agencies.
“We remain one big family devoid of
religious or tribal sentiments, that is why you
can see over 10,000 hunters from Taraba,
Gombe, Bauchi, Borno, Yoba and Adamawa
converged for this epoch-making event,” Mr.
Tola said.
Female hunters also participated in the Salala
festival.
The leader of the female hunters, Aisha Bakari Gombi, said
securing the society was a fight for everyone, irrespective of
gender.
“This is a clarion call. We all must make sacrifices,” she
said.
Babangida Muhammad, the Sarkin Gida, who represented
the Paramount Ruler of Adamawa, Muhammadu Mustapha,
in the festival, said there was need for government to engage
the services of the hunters and other vigilantes in the fight
against social vices.
Hunters in Borno State had on January 3 called on the
military to allow them join the war against Boko Haram
insurgents in the dreaded Sambisa Forest.
“We are appealing to the military authorities to allow us join
the fight against Boko Haram at the Sambisa forest,” Mai-
Gana Mai-Durma, the Borno Emir of the Hunters, made the
appeal in Maiduguri while addressing journalists at the time.
“We are ready to pursue the terrorists because we know the
terrain very well.”
Mr. Mai-Durma said that the military should align them with
members of the vigilante group, popularly known as the
Civilian JTF, for effective result.
“We will overrun Sambisa in partnership with members of
the civilian JTF if given the opportunity,” he said.
The Adamawa State Government had in November 2014
announced that it was officially enlisting the services of
local hunters and vigilantes, called Civilian JTF, to liberate
communities captured by Boko Haram insurgents.
Shortly afterwards the local hunters were reported to have
recaptured Maiha and Mubi local governments, killing at
least 75 Boko Haram militants in the process.
Comments
Post a Comment