KANO — A member of the House of Representatives, Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, has issued a strong appeal to traditional hunters in his constituency to discontinue the practice of migrating from northern to southern Nigeria in search of game, warning that the outdated tradition poses serious security risks in today’s Nigeria.
Rurum, who represents Rano, Bunkure, and Kibiya Federal Constituency in Kano State, made the appeal during a condolence visit to Torankawa community in Bunkure Local Government Area. He was there to sympathize with families of victims recently killed in Uromi, Esan East Local Government Area of Edo State.
Addressing the gathering, the lawmaker emphasized that the long-standing cultural practice of seasonal hunting expeditions across regions is no longer tenable in the current security climate.
“This is not the same Nigeria we knew years ago. You cannot carry cutlasses and rifles and travel to the south in the name of hunting,” Rurum cautioned.
“Imagine the reverse: a group of strangers from another region wielding weapons arriving in your village without understanding your language. How would you react?”
He stressed the need for hunters to recognize the shifting realities and adopt more community-friendly practices that do not inflame ethnic tensions or exacerbate security concerns.
Rurum further revealed that discussions would be held with leaders of hunters’ associations across Kano State to formally put an end to the practice.
“We will not allow this to continue. Hunters go out and return with nothing—sometimes not even a rat. This practice must stop. We need to evolve,” he said.
In addition to his advocacy efforts, the lawmaker pledged N5 million in financial support to the families of the Uromi victims. He also announced plans to construct a school in the affected community, which will be dedicated to the victims and their orphaned children.
Rurum, along with his Senate counterpart, Senator Kawu Sumaila (Kano South), vowed to raise a motion on the floor of the National Assembly to demand justice and accountability for those killed in the Uromi attack.
“We are committed to ensuring that the perpetrators do not walk free,” Rurum declared.
His statements underscore a broader national concern over the intersection of cultural practices, ethnic mistrust, and rising insecurity, and the urgent need for dialogue and adaptation in the face of a changing Nigeria.
