Kano Lawmaker Cautions Local Hunters Against Southern Operations, Donates N5 Million To Bereaved Families.
A member of the House of Representatives from Kano State, Alhassan Kabiru Rirum, has urged local hunters from his constituency to refrain from undertaking hunting expeditions in southern Nigeria, warning that such actions could provoke tension and violence.
Rirum, who represents the Rano/Bunkure/Kibiya Federal Constituency, gave the advice on Thursday during a condolence visit to Torankawa village in Bunkure Local Government Area, where he met with the families of 16 hunters recently killed in Uromi, Edo State.
The lawmaker, a former Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, described the transport of locally-fabricated weapons from the North to the South for hunting purposes as a dangerous practice that may be misinterpreted in light of Nigeria’s current security challenges.
“The present-day Nigeria requires people to engage in businesses or cultural practices that do not raise suspicions or contribute to instability,” Rirum stated.
To support the grieving families, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) member donated N5 million and pledged to sponsor a bill in the House of Representatives that would address the concerns surrounding the movement and safety of local hunters, as well as the protection of host communities.
He recounted a recent incident in Ondo State, where over 30 hunters from Rano were detained. “I had to personally intervene and meet the Governor, showing evidence that they were not criminals. If those in Ondo were as unreasonable as those in Uromi, the outcome could have been far worse,” he said.
Also speaking, factional NNPP Chairman in Kano, Senator Masaud Jibrin Eldoguwa, expressed deep sorrow over the incident, describing it as a tragic but instructive experience. He revealed plans to commence the construction of a school in the area, aimed at supporting the children of the deceased hunters and ensuring they are not abandoned.
Three weeks prior, Edo State Governor, Monday Akpoholo, had led senior members of his cabinet to pay a condolence visit to the families in Torankawa village, vowing to ensure justice for the victims.
In a further show of concern, the Kano State Government has established a fact-finding mission headed by Deputy Governor, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, to travel to Edo State for dialogue and to seek compensation for the bereaved families.
The developments reflect ongoing efforts by leaders from both states to address the root causes of the tragedy and to promote peace and understanding among communities across regional lines.