The leadership of the Hunters Group of Nigeria, Osun State chapter, on Saturday vowed to rid the forests of bandits and criminals.
The PUNCH reports that the group’s chairman, Nureni Hammed, said the resolve became stronger after a meeting ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo had with the national leadership of HGN in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Hammed said Obasanjo was briefed by the group’s national leader, Joshua Osatimehin, on the Hunters and Forest Security Service bill, which has been passed by the National Assembly and is awaiting presidential assent.
He also said the meeting with Obasanjo indicated a growing acceptance of hunters as a critical component of the nation’s security apparatus by major stakeholders in the country.
Hammed said, “The meeting with the ex-president Obasanjo in Abeokuta was a morale booster. We were led to the meeting by the national leader of Hunters Group of Nigeria, Joshua Osatimehin.
“Apart from our deep knowledge of the forest in Osun, we have also demonstrated capacity relying on traditional means to secure our various towns and state. Our resolve is to rid the forest here of bandits and other criminals.
“We are ready to do more here in Osun, and the meeting with the former leader indicates that stakeholders in the country have recognised us as an important part of the country’s security setup, and we will work to justify that confidence.”
