BORNO GOV., ZULUM SECRETLY RECRUITS 1000 LOCAL HUNTERS BELIEVED TO POSSESS POWERS TO RESIST GUNSHOTS AND DISAPPEAR
A few days after employing 30 clerics to pray against Boko Haram, Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum hs reportedly recruited about 1000 local hunters who are believed to possess the supernatural powers to resist gunshots and also to disappear and reappear, like the Japanese ninjas.
According to a report from The Cable, the traditional hunters were recruited from different parts of the north-east and north-west.
Last week, the Nigerian army organised a seminar on using spiritual warfare to counter insurgency.
A source familiar with the secret recruitment told The Cable that the governor may have decided to try unconventional means to supplement efforts of the military.
TheCable learnt that the recruitment was intensified in the last two weeks with the traditional hunters, who are mostly Muslims, armed and administered the oath of allegiance using the Qur’an, Islam’s most sacred book.
“This is the first time outsiders have been engaged,” the source said.
“They are being brought into Borno in batches, often during the night in order to evade public attention.”
They are provided with dane guns, swords and anything they ask for, TheCable further learnt.
The source revealed: “The special hunters are being identified from all parts of the north-east and north-west, in particular, and engaged by a team of trusted aides assigned by Governor Zulum.”
Zulum had in June 2019, a month after he was sworn in, appointed a retired army colonel as special adviser on security.
He also increased monthly allowances of thousands of existing volunteers under the civilian JTF.
He immediately acquired 160 patrol vehicles and surveillance gadgets which he distributed to the fighters he inherited.