Chibok: Borno hunters return home as FG declines authorization for girls’ search

About 500 Borno hunters who had declared their readiness to storm the Sambisa Forest in search of abducted Chibok schoolgirls have left their camp in Maiduguri, the state capital. This followed alleged refusal by the Federal Government to give them a nod to proceed on the rescue mission. Sunday Sun learnt that the hunters, who came from the 27 local government areas of the state, had gathered in Maiduguri for about 17 days, waiting for approval from the authority to embark on the rescue operation. They had demanded authorization from the Borno State Government, which was not forthcoming. Some junior workers at the Hajj Camp also confirmed the hunters left in frustration, adding that they had been in the camp for 17 days. But a senior government official in Borno absolved Governor Kashim Shettima of blame, saying the state was under an extended state of emergency with the Federal Government controlling security issue under the emergency. “We are in a state of emergency and under such situation, what the hunters are asking for is exclusively under the jurisdiction of the President. “Much as we want our girls back, the state governor does not have the power to grant the request of the hunters to go to Sambisa.”