By; BASHIR BELLO DOLLARS, Abuja
The Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFSS) has said that massive recruitments and deployments of hunters in the North-East region of the country has helped tremendously to battle as well as reduce forest crime in the region.
Speaking exclusively with our correspondent, the Zonal Commander North-East Zone, ACG Haruna Umaru Hammanjoda Furo, said hunters now battle criminal elements, which he described as bigger animals in the forests.
He said over 50,000 hunters now ensure that the six states in the North East zone are protected from insurgents who commit crime and run into the bushes and forests for cover and hunters have ensured that Bauchi, Bornu, Adamawa and other states in the region have forests devoid of kidnappers den, armed-robbery gangs and other daredevils.
The North-East ACG of the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFSS) who disclosed that about 400 hunters were recently recruited in Yobe State, said Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammad, has been assisting hunters 100%.
He said just last week, the governor doled out N110 million to hunters in the 20 local government areas of the state.
He also said that Governor Mohammad has donated about 17 Hilux Utility Vehicles and over 300 motorcycles to hunters for operational efficiency.
He said that apart from the foregoing, Senator Bala Mohammad equally paid hunters N6 million every month as allowance.
That he has been paying them allowance since the year 2000 till date.
Apart from the monthly allowance, the Governor of Bauchi State also pays hunters daily allowances on every operation they carried out in the forests. With the collaboration of the Nigeria Police, Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps and others, hunters have been able to flush out bandits and other criminal elements from the forests in Bauchi State.
In Bornu State, ACG Haruna Umaru Hammanjoda Furo revealed that Bornu State Governor Professor Zulum had borrowed a leaf from his Bauchi State counterpart.
He said Professor Zulum, has donated about 30 operational vehicles and motorcycles to hunters to enable them to function effectively in the state.
According to him, Adamawa State Governor, Amadu Fintiri gave hunters 21 operational Hilux for the 21 local government areas of the state, while Taraba State Government also assisted hunters with operational vehicles, adding that hunters have not reneged in ridding the North-East zone of wilder animals in the forests (human criminal elements) which he said is their core mandate.
ACG Haruna Umaru Hammanjoda Furo however, advised governors of the South East states to emulate what their counterparts in the North East are doing through the hunters to fight forest crimes.
He said Nigeria is one united nation and that there should be freedom of movement any day any time, contrary to the sit-at-home scare imposed on the region by faceless outlaws.
The North-East ACG of the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFSS) who appealed to President Bola Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu to assent to the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service Establishment Bill currently on his table, said federal recognition accorded hunters would be an added impetus to combating crime and criminality across the country, especially forest related crimes.
He commended the Commander-General of Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service, Dr. Joshua Osatimehin for his relentless efforts in ensuring strict professionalism and orderliness amongst hunters in their operations across Nigeria.
He also extended commendation to the Deputy Commander-General (Technical Services) Ambassador Dr. John Metchie for his wonderful support in technical operations and modern technology to ensure that hunters succeed in their operations and services to Nigerian citizens by engaging the criminal elements in the country confidently.
The DCG he said, is fully committed to his duty and patriotically assisting the service to meet up to the various technical challenges facing it.
