Bandits' threat: Oyo traditional hunters storm Ogbomoso for crucial meeting, appeal to Tinubu on NFSS

Bandits’ threat: Oyo traditional hunters storm Ogbomoso for crucial meeting, appeal to Tinubu on NFSS

Jeremiah OYELEKE

Traditional hunters in Oyo state Tuesday converged on Ogbomoso for a crucial meeting in the face of escalating threats of bandits’ attacks in the neighbouring Kwara state.

This is as they urged President Bola Tinubu to reconsider on the approval recently granted the Nigeria Hunter and Forest Security Services (NHFSS) noting the traditional hunters are best suited for the job.

Communities in Kwara state currently face existential threats as a result of incessant banditry attacks, manifesting in killings, kidnapping for ransom, sacking of towns, illegal taxing etc.

“Gradually the threat of insecurity sparked by bandits and terrorists’ invasions is encircling us,” Chief Adebayo Amos Odedele, the Oluode Onpetu Ogbomoso South local government, told ogbomosoinsightonline.com, in a chat. “It started in the north east, it spread to the north west and the north central, now it is slamming at our doorstep. It is part of what was discussed at our state meeting but l won’t go into details.”

The meeting was hosted by the Ogbomoso zone branch of the association comprising the five local governments of Ogbomoso North, Ogbomoso South, Oriire, Ogo-Oluwa and Surulere and was held at the residence of Oluode Soun, Chief Ayobami Oguntunji at Isale-Afon.

Members attended from all parts of the state.

The meeting assured of the readiness of members to confront the terrorists, however, they emphasized the need for government’s recognition and support.

It was noted in a communique obtained by Ogbomoso Insight after the meeting that “local hunters are by nature made to combat forest threats like banditry. We are the best suited for forest confrontations against criminals.”

“We are forest prowlers by the nature of our profession and so we know the tracks, the hideouts, the treacherous places. We are endowed with powers to blend with the environment, becoming invisible so that we are not seen by the criminals and we will be able to capture them alive. We fight dangerous animals, gnomes and other demonic forces in the bush, at night especially, so neutralising bandits will be a walk in the park for us.

“At occasions when we accompany soldiers into the bush we often assist them to capture bandits. When we pursue a criminal, he will be getting tired as we pursue him or falling down and so we will be able to capture him alive.”

They however lamented the non-recognition by the governments at the different levels in terms of provision of weapons, patrol vehicles and motorcycles.

“If government recognises our contributions, gives us guns, patrol vehicles and motorcycles our work will be enhanced. But we can do little if we lack government’s backing. Even our Dane guns policemen at times confiscate them.”

Meanwhile, Chief Odedele, Oluode South (Oluode Onpetu) further pointed out that not all who call themselves hunters are one. He asserted true hunters “take oath before Ogun (god of iron), have set of rules we strictly follow and whoever betrays the oath faces dire consequences. Many who call themselves hunters today are emergency hunters who dabbled into it because they are hungry. Many thugs are employed to stand guard at people’s residences, shops etc, but they are not true hunters, they don’t know the nitty-gritty of the work. Local hunters have structure and codes.”

He also said a true hunter has the capacity to capture thieves or criminals who had already escaped, “a born hunter knows what to do to get escaped armed robbers arrested,” he stated.

On the recent recognition of the Nigeria Hunter forest guards, officially known as the Nigerian Forest Security Service (NFSS) (formerly Nigerian Hunter & Forest Security Service or NHFSS), by the federal government, an initiative to provide security for Nigeria’s forests and natural resources, and combat crime in forests, Chief Odedele though commended President Bola Tinubu posited the traditional hunters should have been saddled with the task. He clarified the group that was recognised is a subset of the traditional hunters, lamenting many in the group are not traditional hunters “but those who dabbled into the profession for lack of jobs.”

He urged the president to rather task the traditional hunters with the mandate for greater effectiveness and results. “Those ones came out of us but they lack our expertise. They are breakaway members. President Tinubu should reconsider arming NHFSS, it is the local hunters that should be empowered, we are the ones in the forest. We beg President Tinubu to give us this assignment, most members of this group don’t have prerequisite powers to deploy in the bush.”

Also, Chief Ayobami Oguntunji Akintara, the Oluode Soun (Ogbomoso), appealed to government for assistance while charging hunters to be vigilant in the face of threats posed by bandits and herdsmen.

In the same vein, Oluode Ibadan and who is Aare Ajagun Oluode of Yorubaland, Chief Moshood Kehinde, harped on the need for government support, assuring, “hunters are equal to the task of protecting the region. It is our traditional duty, hunters from ancient times protect their communities, hunters founded towns and they are recognised by traditional rulers. But today we need government assistance. For police not to harass our members.”

The association commended Oyo state governor Engr Seyi Makinde for his efforts in ensuring the state is secured and immune to bandits’ attacks, urging him “to intensify efforts and to particularly involve local hunters in the security arrangements.”