Members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) are furious because they have not been paid their allowances for the past 16 months – but the Borno State government has promised to rectify this in August.
Adamu Mohammed, a CJTF member told RNI that the work they did was voluntary and they did it “for the sake of Allah and our dear Borno State”.
“We can’t protest or question the government’s decision with regards to our allowances because we know that it is really trying to help and support us at all times. And we really appreciate its efforts.
“But we have been working for almost one year and four months without an allowance. When we forwarded our complaints to the government regarding the arrears, they asked us to be patient and promised to start paying us this month.
“The nature of our work is very risky, especially for those who work with the Agro-rangers unit, which comprises the Nigerian Civil Defence, local hunters and members of the CJTF. Their responsibility is to protect farmers and their farmlands. Apart from monitoring the activities of the farmers, we are also responsible for mediating between farmers and herders when cases of dispute or conflict arise or there is some other misunderstanding. So, we work hand in hand with other security operatives, especially the soldiers, to ensure that all farmers in the forest are safely returned to their homes by 2pm, although a new government directive has changed that to 3pm.”
Mohammed said the work was dangerous and took a toll on their lives.
“Even though we have been working without a penny, it has not affected our work. We have continued our duties and have been protecting the farmers in the forest.”
He said colleagues had been wounded and killed – especially during attacks by insurgents from the Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’way Wa’l-Jihād (JAS), better known as Boko Haram, or members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
“We persist in carrying out our duties of safeguarding our dear state, because the state government and the people of Borno State have always remained very supportive to us and our families. Often they give us food and sometimes even cash. Their gratitude has always encouraged us to do even more for our people. We defend them even though we do not have all the equipment we need to do our job effectively.”
Mohammed said the CJTF did not have enough weapons and patrol vehicles.
“We are badly in need of these so that we can protect the farmers without feeling under threat by insurgents. We particularly need support from the government now that the Maiduguri-Damboa road has been reopened.
“We patrol the road to ensure the safety of farmers. And, sometimes, we even escort motorists who use that road. If the government provides us with more equipment we will be able to work to the best of our ability. We don’t want to disappoint our people and the government.
“But we also need to be respected. It takes guts to be a CJTF member because we are often first in the line of fire. We live and die for our people and we should not have to wait 16 months for the payment of our allowances.”
SHETTIMA LAWAN MONGUNO
