At least 10 hunters lost their lives while on a rescue mission to Kopire village, Hong local government area of Adamawa State.

Chairman of the Hunters Association of Nigeria, North East, Shawulu Yohanna, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Tuesday.

He said the deceased hunters paid supreme price during a fierce battle with Boko Haram terrorists in the bush.

“I can confirm to you that 10 of my people/hunters lost their lives during a gun duel with the terrorists while responding to distress calls of attacks on some communities.

“We were informed that the attackers were regrouping to launch another deadly attack, so we mobilized 40 of our hunters drawn from Hawul and Biu LGAs in Borno state, and Garkida town of Adamawa state to confront the terrorists.

“Unfortunately, during the encounter which lasted for some hours, my men ran out of ammunition, and the terrorists succeeded in killing 10 of them but we successfully recovered their dead bodies.

“Unfortunately, all the efforts by Governor Babagana Zulum to end these incessant attacks are being sabotaged,” he said.

Yohanna said the rate at which Boko Haram terrorists were regrouping and attacking communities is very alarming.

“There’s information that a red helicopter usually ferries these terrorists into undisclosed locations without confrontation.

“But I can assure that if the federal government can wade in and provide us with sophisticated weapons, we will eliminate these terrorists in no distant time,” he said.

He appealed to the federal government to provide hunters and vigilantes with sophisticated weapons to fully fight the battle and end Boko Haram insurgency in the region.

The development comes barely 12 hours after the terrorists killed over 30 people, including women and children in Kala Balge and Gambarou Ngala local government areas of the state.