Borno State Government has engaged the services of 1,000 hunters to provide protection to farmers at the outskirts of Jere and environs during this year’s cropping season.
The state GOVERNOR, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, Thursday, chaired the induction of the 1,000 hunters freshly enlisted to join existing ones in the on-going fight against Boko Haram terrorism.
According to him,the hunters are to provide dedicated protection to farmers who cultivate crops in the outskirts of Jere and it’s environs.
It could be recalled, over 70 farmers were killed in November 2020 as well as FARMERS in parts of Maiduguri metropolis, Konduga and Mafa Local Government Areas.
Our correspondent reported that, GOVERNOR Zulum, had 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 to reduce the risk of being killed by insurgents.
As a result,the Governor has also increased monthly allowances of all volunteers, provided kits, surveillance tools and allocated hundreds of vehicles to units across the 27 local government areas of the state.
The 1,000 additional hunters have since undergone an induction exercise at Gongulong ward,having completed security vetting by the DSS and the military.
“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” Zulum said.
In a welcome address, member representing Jere at 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 C-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.
The ceremony was attended by the SSG, Usman Jidda Shuwa, Head of Service, Barr. Simon Malgwi, Commissioners and other top Government functionaries.
