by James Sambo

Borno residents have urged their state government to employ the services of local hunters and vigilantes in recovering towns and villages captured by the Boko Haram Islamic sect.

Unconfirmed reports have it that local vigilantes in Adamawa have successfully taken back Mubi and Mahia towns from the insurgents, hence, the agitation of Borno residents for the use of hunters and vigilante groups in recovering seized territories.

Jubrin Gunda, a lawyer in Maiduguri, who is also the Secretary of Borno Vigilante Group called Civilian JTF, implored the Borno government to allow the civilian fighters take up arms against the insurgents.

He said: “It is time for us to act toward recapturing the towns seized by the insurgents. I have been in constant touch with the Adamawa group because some of our vigilantes are part of the team. I monitor the operations from the beginning and I am very proud of them.”

Gunda expressed his optimism in the vigilantes’ ability to take back Gwoza, Bama and other Borno towns seized by the insurgents, if given the opportunity.

Similarly, Ali Mamman, a Borno resident stated that the hunters had previously offered to go after the insurgents in Borno.

He said: “Some few months ago, hunters assembled at the Ramat Square in Maiduguri and sought for permission to go after the insurgents in Sambisa but the authorities declined the request.”

According to Mamman, unlike the soldiers who have failed to defeat Boko Haram, the hunters would have overrun the insurgents long ago.

Another resident, Samuel Jigo, said the hunters were the only group that could effectively defeat Boko Haram because they posses “black magic power” like the insurgents.

He said, “The insurgents are also using black magic power, that is why they capture people easily. Since the hunters too have their own black power, it is easy for them to defeat them.”

Kolapo Olapoju