Kidnapping: 'Use us strategically, we know where these bandits are,' traditional hunters to army

Kidnapping: ‘Use us strategically, we know where these bandits are,’ traditional hunters to army

Khalid ABRAHAM

Chief Oluode Abiade

The head of traditional hunters (Oluode) in Ogbomoso South local government area of Oyo state, Chief Adebayo Abiade, has reiterated that hunters and security agents especially the Nigerian army need to work together in a strategic way to combat the unabated menace of insecurity in the country, asserting traditional hunters are the missing link in Nigeria’s security architecture.

“We traditional hunters are strategically placed to confront banditry, terrorism and other security challenges emanating especially from herders and others based in the forests. Normally, we do sight them in their forest camps and bases when we go hunting but since they don’t interfere with us we don’t fight them,” Chief Abiade stated in a statement made available to ogbomosoinsightonlinem.com Friday.

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“However, we aren’t happy with the way things have degenerated especially in the northern part of the country, where bandits and terrorists have taken over whole communities and turn to feudal lords. But there is little traditional hunters can do if we are not properly engaged in order not to be on the wrong side of the law. But we are ready for a strategic synergy if we are reached out to.”

He however added, “We won’t be taking over the work of conventional security agents, we can’t anyway, but we can collaborate, and the olive hand needs to be extended by them even if discreet. In the past we actively were involved in security of lives and properties, maintained the protection of our communities, our fathers did that effectively and we can too if our assistance is sought.”

The Oluode meanwhile noted that government must recognise them and importantly, render them assistance to perform effectively.

“Whether the army and other security agencies partner with us or not, we want government to assist us. We need patrol vans, motorcycles, gun powder, and in the area of funding and so on.

”This will highly improve our efficiency and effectiveness through increased mobility. Also, in terms of stipends during special operations we are invited to participate in. If we are taken into the bush like it happened in Igbeti area sometime ago to flush out suspected bandits they should compensate us. We will leave our regular work yet we have to provide for our families. We need encouragement too. Government should assist us.”

Chief Abiade emphasized, “We are ready to assist security agencies in stemming the tide of kidnapping and other security challenges but at the same time we appeal to government for support whether working in synergy with others or not; we are always on ground to tackle threats and foil attacks. The local hunters are powerful, spiritually and tactically, and in intel gathering. We are the missing link in the security architecture. We are made for it, we are suited for the assignment, it’s inborn.”