Since their firearms are legal, a group of hunters in Bauchi State have argued that they are permitted to carry them when hunting.
In response to the recent horrific killing of sixteen members in Uromi, Edo State, they sought justice.
To guarantee justice is done and to prevent further acts of violence, the group urged the federal and state governments to capture and prosecute the offenders.
Abashe Garba, the Sarkin Bakan Hausawan Africa, spoke on behalf of the group and vehemently denounced the murders.
In response to the unfortunate event, Garba said during a press briefing in Bauchi on Tuesday that attacks in Southern Nigeria have previously targeted Northerners.
He reaffirmed the value of justice as a tool for advancing national cohesion and peace.
He offered his deepest sympathies to the victims’ families as well as to Alhaji Abdulkadir Dahiru Koguna, the head of the Hausa community in Africa.
In addition, he prayed for the dead and said he hoped justice would be served soon.
“We want the government to take immediate action to ensure all those involved in the killings are apprehended and punished according to the law,” he said.
In response to claims that the victims had been found in possession of local firearms, Alhaji Garba explained that hunters have historically employed these weapons as part of their profession and that their activities are lawful and organized.
“We operate as an organized group. Carrying guns is not illegal for our members—these are tools used in hunting. All our members carry official ID cards and should be verified through proper channels when stopped,” he explained.
“It’s impossible to hunt with bare hands. Since ancient times, hunters have relied on weapons, from bows and arrows to firearms. Wild animals require specialized methods, and guns are essential for our work,” he added.
Garba further highlighted the role hunters play in supporting national security.
“In Bauchi State, for instance, just two years ago in the Ganji area of Ningi, we engaged kidnappers in several operations. I lost eight men in the process, but we were able to eliminate the threat,” he recalled.
“Similarly, in Magama Gumau, the area faced recurring kidnappings less than two years ago. I was called upon, and I deployed my team to tackle the problem. The community is now peaceful,” he added.
To boost the hunters’ spirits and fortify their contributions to national security, he called on the Federal and State Governments, among others, to keep helping them.
Remember how a vigilante group mercilessly murdered 16 Northerners in Udune Efandion, a community in Uromi, Esan North-East Local Government Area, weeks ago while they were returning from Rivers State on their way to Kano State?
