Some force members have not turned up for work and others are threatening to leave, saying they have not received their stipends for four months and can no longer support their families.

Members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Borno State in Nigeria’s northeast have threatened to quit unless they are paid.

They say they are frustrated and angry because they have not received their monthly stipend for four months.

“We risk our lives daily. Why should we put our lives in danger for nothing? We have families to support. Every day we work to restore peace and stability in the state. It is a disgrace that we have not received our stipends for four months. How are we supposed to survive? We want to know what the Borno State government is going to do about this,” a CJTF member from Konduga, who asked to remain anonymous, said.

Grema Kachalla Kyari, a security analyst, told RNI that the CJTF played a significant role in keeping citizens of Borno State safe.

“Members of the CJTF risk their lives every day. Along with hunters, members of the CJTF continue to fight for peace in the conflict-ridden state. Many have died in the line of duty.”

Kyari said he was aware that CJTF members in certain local government areas, including Damboa and Konduga, had not been paid for the past four months.

“CJTF members have done their best to restore peace in the state. They have made a lot of sacrifices in the fight against the insurgency. Many have died in action.

“Every day they accompany farmers who have lands in remote areas and do their best to protect them. They know that each time they go there is a good chance that they will come face to face with insurgents.

“If CJTF members lose motivation and back out of service, the security situation in Borno State will become uncontrollable again. Unfortunately, although there is relative peace now, attacks by insurgents still occur.

“Just look at what happened in Gwoza and Monguno in the past two weeks. You can just imagine what will happen if CJTF members quit. They play an important part in keeping citizens safe, as well as in counterinsurgency operations. The military relies on the support of hunters and the CJTF to restore peace and stability in the region.

On Saturday, June 29, female suicide bombers, believed to be members of the Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’way Wa’l-Jihād (JAS), more commonly referred to as Boko Haram, detonated person-borne improvised explosive devices at a wedding, a hospital and a funeral gathering in the Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, killing 32 people.

On Sunday, June 30, a man and his daughter were killed instantly in an IED blast on the way to their farm in the Monguno Local Government Area.

“The state cannot do without the assistance rendered by the CJTF. I am pleading with the government to hasten the payments of these people because they are going through a lot. Our peace and livelihood rest on their shoulders.

“CJTF members are frustrated. The government, particularly at the local levels, must address this serious issue immediately. We cannot afford to lose these security operatives. This is a matter of extreme urgency.”

When the CJTF formed after the start of the insurgency in Borno State in 2009, members freely volunteered their services. In 2013 they were enrolled as state security operatives and received a monthly stipend.

Lawan Gana Usman, a CJTF member in the Damboa Local Government Area, said he was fed up with the non-payment.

“We haven’t received a penny for four months. The money we earn goes to support our families. You can just imagine the hardship we are facing now. Without income, we cannot feed or clothe our families. We depend on that money. We are suffering. Our families are suffering. We cannot go on like this.

“Our leaders are aware of the situation and have assured us that they have reported the issue to the relevant authorities. Even the chairman of the Damboa Local Government Area is aware of it, yet nothing has been done. So far, we have not taken matters into our own hands. But some of our members are threating to quit if the problem is not solved immediately.

“No one has given us any reasons for the non-payment. Initially, we thought it was a network problem with our banks. But it has dragged on from one month to two and now four months without any valid explanation.

“We are pleading with Radio Ndarason to amplify our voices so that the relevant authorities will take up this issue and find a lasting solution.

“Despite the lack of salary, most of us have not stopped performing our duties. The government must address this issue urgently. There are some among us who are tired and lack morale. You cannot force them to fight if they are not motivated.”

The CJTF member in Konduga, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “For the past four months we have not been paid a dime. We are now in the fifth month.

“It is not just the members of the CJTF who have not been paid. Hunters have also not been paid. And it is not the newly recruited members, it is every member; even those who have been members of the CJTF for years have not received their monthly stipend.

“We have reported it to the relevant authorities. They have assured us that they are doing everything possible to rectify the problem.

“Some CJTF members have stopped coming to work. When we asked them why, they said, ‘Why should we come when we aren’t being paid?’ Most are family men. We cannot force them to work without pay. Now they are looking for other work so that they can support their families. They need money to survive.

“CJTF members in other local governments, such as Bama, Mafa, Gwoza and Damboa, also have not been paid. We have complained to the secretary and reported it to the chairman at least three times. The only response we got was that the fault does not lie with them but with our unit. But that is not true.”

RNI contacted the leadership of the CJTF in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State. They refused to comment and referred the reporter to the chairmen of the affected local government areas.

RNI attempted to contact the chairmen of the Konduga and Damboa local governments on Sunday, July 7, but they did not answer phone calls and did not respond to text messages.

AYSHA MUSTAPHA KOLOMI