Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has expressed willingness to work with and support hunters in the state. This move is to address pockets of security threats such as banditry and kidnappings.
Engineer Sule made this known while hosting members of the Hunters Group Nigeria, at the Government House, on Wednesday.
According to the Governor, though hunters in the state have been jointly working with security agencies to tackle incidence of banditry and kidnapping in parts of the state, his dream is to see how government can work closely with hunters and get compensated for putting their lives on the line.
Engineer Sule however called on the Hunters Group Nigeria, to co-opt other hunters that are not part of the association, for easy coordination.
While noting that his administration has been working with hunters in the state, who have been part of the success recorded with bandits, as well as kidnappings, especially in parts of Nasarawa Local Government Council, the governor urged the national officials of the association to unite all hunters under one umbrella.
He said, “It’s normal to have splinter groups in such associations but I will call on you, to see how to co-opt all those people we are working with. We really have a lot of respect for them.”
Engineer Sule recalled that few months back he visited some of the hunters that got wounded and were receiving treatment at a hospital in Nasarawa.
Speaking further, the Governor said, unlike states in the South West, where they have the Amotekun security outfit, Nasarawa state has since adopted community policing, with already most of the members team trained in Makurdi, Benue State.
He added that some hunters were part of the community policing team in the state.
The Governor expressed willingness to work with the hunters, expressing appreciation to those hunters working hard for the state. “I’m looking forward to how we can work with you in Nasarawa State,” he told the hunters officials.
Earlier, in his opening remarks, Amabssador Joshua Shateme, Commandant General, Hunters Group Nigeria, said they were at the Government House, to familiarize themselves with the Governor, over his feat in tackling security issues, as well as look for avenues to work together.
Shateme commended Engineer Sule’s “exemplary” leadership, especially in the area of tackling insecurity in the state, which has made Nasarawa the most crime free state in the North Central zone.
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