Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno has inaugurated 1,000 volunteer hunters to complement efforts of security agencies on counter insurgency.
Addressing the hunters in Khaddamari village, Jere Local Government Area of Borno, Mr Zulum commended them for the sacrifice and support to his administration in its sustained efforts for peace and security in the state.
The governor assured them of logistics support and monthly allowances to ginger them in the onerous task.
“What we are witnessing today is inauguration of 1,000 members of volunteer hunters to protect the farming communities in four local government areas.
“These farming communities are within Maiduguri, Jere, Mafa and Konduga LGAs,” Mr Zulum said.
He lauded a federal lawmaker Ahmed Satomi (APC-Borno), and State Assembly members from the affected local government areas for their contributions in mobilising the hunters for the selfless service.
Earlier, Mr Satomi said the decision to mobilise the hunters, who had been screened by relevant security agencies, was inline with the commitment of the state government to enhance security in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Governor Zulum has visited Mulai and Dalwa communities, on the outskirts of Maiduguri and also met with security operatives, to begin modalities for re-opening of farmlands along that axis, so as to avoid livelihood crisis.
Mr Zulum said the decision to reopen farms was in compliance with the directive to the Nigerian military and other security agencies by President Muhammadu Buhari to work with the state government and come up with modalities that would allow people to access their farmlands.
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Borno State has been the epicentre of Boko Haram insurgency since 2009. In spite of the efforts of the Nigerian military to contain the insurgents, insecurity caused by the terrorists remains a major hindrance to development in the state.
