MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — Traditional hunters armed
with homemade guns, poisoned spears and amulets have gathered in their
hundreds, eager to use their skills and what they believe to be
supernatural powers to help find nearly 300 schoolgirls abducted by
Islamic extremists.
Some 500 hunters, some as young as 18 and some
in their 80s, say they have been specially selected by their peers for
their spiritual hunting skills and have been waiting for two weeks in
Maiduguri, the Borno state capital and the birthplace of Boko Haram, to
get backing from the military and get moving.
With Nigeria's
military accused by many citizens of not doing enough to rescue the
girls, the hunters demonstrated their skills to an Associated Press
reporter on Sunday. Cow horn trumpets echoed eerie war cries from the
screaming and chanting men as they twirled knives and swords with
dexterity, occasionally stabbing and cutting themselves with no apparent
harm. 
The hunters claimed their magic charms prevented any blood being
drawn. They also trust amulets of herbs and other substances wrapped in
leather pouches as well as cowrie shells, animal teeth and leather
bracelets to protect them from bullets.
The appearance of the
hunters from three northeastern states underscores how deeply the April
15 mass kidnapping — and the government's apparent lack of action — has
affected Nigerian society.
It has spawned demonstrations and a tidal
wave of commentary in media including social sites like Twitter and
Facebook.
- A spokesman for the hunters stopped short of actually criticizing the military.
- "We're not saying we are better than the soldiers, but we know the bush better than the soldiers," said Sarkin Baka. The hunters said they gathered here at the suggestion of a state legislator.
- A military spokesman did not immediately respond to an emailed question from AP on whether it would take advantage of the hunters' local knowledge.
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