In Adamawa State, the Tol Hoba of Hong, Alheri Nyako, has appealed to the federal government to deploy additional troops to Hong Local Government Area following renewed attacks by Boko Haram terrorists on communities bordering the Sambisa Forest in Borno State.
The monarch attributed the recent killing of ten local hunters to the absence of an Air Force operational base in Adamawa, which he believes has left the region vulnerable.
Hong LGA shares a boundary with Sambisa Forest, a known Boko Haram stronghold. Recently, the communities of Lar and Bangha in Dugwaba District came under attack by suspected terrorists, resulting in the deaths of ten hunters and the destruction of property.
The Tol Hoba, who has been working closely with security personnel and local hunters, expressed grave concern over the security challenges facing border communities in his domain. He urged the federal government to equip local hunters with sophisticated weapons to enhance their ability to combat insurgents.
“If vigilantes are armed with better weapons, they can effectively fight back against Boko Haram,” he said. “We also need aerial support from the Air Force and increased security presence around communities near Sambisa Forest.”
Markus Musa, a relative of one of the slain hunters, recounted the tragedy: “We left our hometown, Kopre, due to the Boko Haram threat. My brother joined other vigilantes to defend the area, but they were overpowered. Ten of them were killed. Now it’s farming season, and we want to return home—but we don’t feel safe.”
Meanwhile, Wamanyi Lazarus (not his real name), a hunter who survived the attack, shared his experience: “The insurgents came just before 4 a.m., and we heard gunshots. We engaged in a gun battle but ran out of ammunition and had to retreat. Most of our men were killed; only a few of us managed to escape.”
Security experts have stressed that with proper training and equipment, local hunters and vigilantes could play a crucial role in ending the insurgency.
