Nigerian Military Warns Hunters To Steer Clear Of The Battle Field With Boko Haram

Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade speaks to journalists from The Associated Press in an interview in Abuja, Nigeria, on Thursday, May 30, 2013.

The Defence Headquarters, DHQ, yesterday, expressly warned local hunters to steer clear of the ongoing military operations against the Boko Haram insurgency group in the North East, as their presence and contributions were fast breeding mischief and thus becoming irrelevant to the system.

Director of Defence Information, Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade, who spoke with reporters in Abuja,stressed that the military would however make use of them if it becomes relevant.
There have been claims over time, especially with the recent one in Mubi, Adamawa State, that the local hunters were the ones prosecuting and winning the war against the Boko Haram insurgents and reclaiming captured towns, to spite the military.
However, General Olukolade dismissed this as totally untrue, stating that their flimsy contributions were just being mischievously exaggerated. He said, “For as long as they are relevant, we will continue to use them, not as if it is a blanket offer,” said that the military had several other people it uses too as its sources, and it must not necessarily be the local hunters.
He disclosed that the military was aware that certain persons were merely using the contributions of the local hunters to achieve their mischievous purposes, which was unhealthy for the military, country and the ongoing operations.
Olukolade, who insisted that there was nothing so spectacular about the hunters’ contributions, said that they were only being used to get information, as well as identify the people in the localities since they were part of those localities.
The DHQ had earlier in the week, posted on its official blog that the involvement of the hunters in the counter-terrorism was misrepresented.
According to the DHQ, “All the flimsy and exaggerated claims of hunters’ exploits in the ongoing operations are simply intended to foster a mischievous campaign aimed at disparaging and depreciating the professional efforts of the Nigerian military at containing the terrorists especially in Adamawa. It is obvious that the intention is to ridicule and discourage the military. We are not moved.
“While appreciating the effort of the hunters and citizens who have been supporting our troops in the onslaught, the military still remains in the vanguard of the mission to rid the nation of terrorists and their activities.
We will remain focused and utilise only well-meaning support and advice in the ongoing campaign to wipe out terrorists.”