Borno State Govt. Recruits 12,735 Hunters, Vigilantes To Fight Insurgency

The Borno State Government has engaged the recruitment of 12,735 hunters and vigilantes as members of Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) to help fight insecurity in the state.

Alhaji Sugun Mai-Mele, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, made this known on Saturday while briefing newsmen on activities and achievements of the ministry within the past one year.

Mai-Mele revealed that N131.9 million would be spent monthly in paying the recruits to enhance security in the 25 local government areas of the state News Desk reports.

“The initiative was geared toward return of peace at the local government level. This measure is aimed at providing complementary services to the security operatives and subsequently building the confidence of the populace.”

“The state has also sought the engagement of mobile police force who will be deployed and stationed at Magumeri, Konduga, Damboa and Nganzai Local Government Areas (LGAs) as their operational centres.”

“All this efforts are geared toward providing adequate security to local communities,” Mai-Mele said.

The commissioner said that the ministry has successfully furnished the palaces of the Shehu of Dikwa and that of Bama, vandalised by insurgents.

Mai-Mele also said that the ministry constructed a befitting office complex for Local Government Pension Board and furnished the council secretariats of Monguno, Biu and Bayo LGAs.

He said, “We also electrified 16 villages in Hawul and Shani LGAs.”

The commissioner stated that the ministry had procured 3,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser and 134 tractors for farmers in the rural areas, as part of measures to boost agriculture.

Mai-Mele said that the governor had approved the release of 80 per cent counterpart fund to the State Primary Education Board for the continual rehabilitation and reconstruction of infrastructure in rural schools.

He said that the ministry was able to carry out immunisation activities in collaboration with the state primary healthcare agency and Ministry of Health.

“We also inaugurated COVID-19 committees at the local government level to curb further spread of the virus,” he said.