Junril Gunda, Legal Officer of Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) in Maiduguri, Borno State, says 680 members of the group have died since 2012 trying to repel Boko Haram attacks in the state.

But despite the fatality, he said that he and other members of the group would not stop defending their land against terrorists.

“We are therefore working tirelessly to provide civic protections against any form of threat represented by Boko Haram,” Gunda said in Maiduguri on Friday.

“Sadly, a lot of our youths have paid the supreme price, there is hardly any day you will hear of an attack without one of our civilian JTF killed and that does not mean we will stop defending our land of terrorism.

“As you can see, I am a lawyer by profession. This is my chambers and I am happy to also be one of the Civilian JTF. I was also trained for eight months on light arms’ use by the military. If I see a Boko Haram now, I can take him down with my gun.”

According to him, the JTF loses a member each time there is any terrorist attack in the state.

“The group which is non profitable started in 2012 when our youths picked up sticks and said no more Boko Haram and they successfully pushed the terrorist group out of Maiduguri. We don’t have any other home than Borno, we are therefore working tirelessly to provide civic protections against any form of threat represented by Boko Haram.

“It was necessary to train our civilian JTF on the use of arms because they always move along with the military in the front line during operations. “Our civilian JTF had taken part in almost all the operations going on in Sambisa forest. “It was also necessary because they are always the first to sight Boko Haram suspects during checks in the state capital.

“Boko Haram members are not afraid of the military, they are afraid of the civilian JTF; they believe if a civilian JTF kill any of them, they will go to hell. Many of them have said this during their testimonies,” said Gunda.

He disclosed that no fewer than 23,000 youth vigilantes have been registered under the body to provide civic protection in all parts of the state, adding that the job of the Civilian JTF is purely to insurgents from causing havoc in the society.

Gunda lamented that there were numerous challenges confronting the group, such as non-payment of members.

“Like I said earlier, it was a voluntary thing, so no one was paid any penny for the job and because of some difficulties and poor living conditions of the youths, some engage in begging to fend for themselves,” he said.