Boko Haram: Borno deploys 500 hunters after oath-taking

Five hundred hunters who volunteered to provide support to the Nigerian military in the ongoing war against Boko Haram, were on Wednesday made to take oath of secrecy.

The oath, sworn by each hunter using the Bible and the Quran, was to ensure the hunters did not betray the military or leak intelligence about key operations.

The oath-taking, supervised by the governor of Borno state, Kashim Shettima, was done at the government house in Maiduguri.

Mr. Shettima said the oath-taking became expedient to avoid unnecessary leakage of strategic information that may give the enemy advantage.

The oath was witnessed by military representatives and the state’s Commissioner of Police, leader of the hunters, Mai Durma, led in the oath taking.

“May anyone who reveals our strategy to Boko Haram or betrays allegiance to the military and government in anyway be consumed by this oath,” Mr Durma announced after administering the oaths.

He also warned the hunters to be mindful of what they swore to, and commit themselves to efforts in regain peace in the state.

The governor said renewed attacks by insurgents in some parts of the state necessitated the fresh deployment of traditional hunters who have volunteered to compliment progresses being recorded by gallant soldiers.

He also said even though there was no doubt concerning the sincerity of the traditional hunters selected, “The oath was to eliminate any doubt which could arise especially since unlike the Civilian JTF who have worked longer with soldiers, engagement of the traditional hunters was comparatively new.”