Hunting Boko Haram
Fed-up Nigerian Adamawa hunters take on Islamic terrorists
As a child, Aisha Bakari Gombi used to hunt with her father searching for big game in forests in the northeast of Nigeria. Now animals no longer roam there, and Aisha chases a different prey – Islamist insurgents from Boko Haram, one of the world’s deadliest armed groups that has ravaged her country for nearly a decade.
Aisha leads a vigilante group that helps government forces fight Boko Haram militants in the Adamawa state. Hunters say they can't stand aside while mass kidnappings, rapes, and killings still happen, despite Boko Haram being contained in a few pockets in the countryside. The Adamawa hunters use homemade weapons, secret potions believed to protect them from bullets, and their knowledge of the mountains and forests help track down the terrorists.
An RTD crew met the Boko Haram hunters to learn more about their counterinsurgency and the female leader, whose bravery has already won her heroine status in local folklore. We also hear from a Boko Haram victim who managed to escape her captors, but still finds it hard to be accepted by her community.
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Published: 30 November 2018 00:30
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Duration
25:39
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The Adamawa hunters of northeast Nigeria used to hunt in the bush for antelope and other small game.
When Boko Haram militants started advancing through the country, wreaking havoc on towns and villages, the hunters couldn’t just stand by.
The Adamawa hunters formed citizen militia-style squads to help the army combat the terrorists.
Aisha Bakari Gombi became one of the few women to hunt down Boko Haram and was later named the Adamawa warrior queen and their leader after her commander was killed.
Aisha’s hunters wear black, which they say is the colour their ancestors used to wear.
Their main weapon of choice is a traditional homemade rifle.
Finely honed hunting skills and detailed local knowledge make up for their limited arms.
Adamawa hunters also wear amulets and douse themselves in potions for protection during raids.
Aisha successfully juggles her roles as ‘Queen Hunter’, mother and wife. Her husband is so confident in Aisha he lets her take their baby daughter on missions.
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