GRLife
Meet 38 yrs Old, Boko Haram Nightmare, Aisha Gombi.
“Boko Haram knows me and fear me,” says Aisha Bakari Gombi whose band of hunters have rescued hundreds of men, women and children in Bornu State…
Bakari Aisha Gombi alias ‘Queen Hunter’, is a 38 years old woman, she grew up near the Sambisa forest, where the extremists still operate despite a military offensive last year that destroyed many of their major camps. She used to hunt antelopes, baboons and guinea fowl with her grandfather. Aisha’s hunting skills impressed her father so much that he gave her his hunting rifle.
She began the rescue mission when seven abducted women and four children were being taken deeper into Sambisa forest in Borno State, northeast Nigeria, Aisha Bakari Gombi who was known with her traditional powers and hunting skill with forest navigation, received a call.
The voice was familiar, an army commander asking her to assemble a group of hunters to track them down. The seven had vanished earlier that day after a group of Boko Haram militants attacked their village, Daggu. Three local people were shot dead and cars, houses and food stores set ablaze.
Daggu is a half-hour drive from Chibok where more than 200 schoolgirls were abducted in April 2014. Both villages are in the region of Borno, which has become all too familiar with such attacks by the world’s deadliest terrorist group.
When the fighters attacked Aisha’s town, she gave up being a seamstress, sold her sewing machine and bought a more powerful rifle then she began to hunts for Boko Haram.
The fighters were chased out by the hunters who led the military onslaught against them. They were hailed as heroes, and as one of the very few women among them, Aisha entered into folklore. Civilians began to call her and ask for assistance in freeing their loved ones from Boko Haram captivity.
There are thousands of hunters in the region who have been enlisted by the military on an ad hoc basis but Bakari Aisha Gombi is one of only a handful of women involved and she has become a heroine for hunters and local people alike because her gallantry has won her the title “queen hunter”.
The first rescue mission in Daggu failed “because Boko Haram was heavily armed. But we saw where [the girls] are being held,” Bakari Aisha Gombi explains the morning after, “we could free them if the military would give us better weapons,” she adds, eyeing the double-barrel shotgun on her lap.
Like many in the rural regions of north-east Nigeria, Bakari Aisha Gombi is Muslim but also believes in traditional spirits.
Aisha uses the opportunity to teach younger hunters how to identify medicinal plants. One of her rituals is to douse fellow hunters with a secret potion to protect them from bullets. Others help them to repress hunger and thirst so they can stay in the bush for long periods.
The hunters know the fighters’ hiding places in the forests and mountains better than most government soldiers.
The 38-year-old leads a command of men aged 15-30 who communicate using sign language, animal sounds and even birdsong.
“Boko Haram know me and fear me,” says Bakari Gombi whose band of hunters have rescued hundreds of men, women and children.
The Nigerian army began recruiting women in 2011, and while the numbers remain low nationwide, in this region some women have very personal reasons for joining the counter insurgency. One of those is Hamsat Hassan, whose sister was kidnapped by Boko Haram two years ago. She has not been seen since.
Hamzat Hassan said, “I couldn’t fire a gun when I asked to join the Hunters’ Association in a town also called Gombi, but all I knew was that I wanted to avenge the people who abducted my sister.” Hassan’s grandparents look after her seven children so she is available to hunt whenever her services are called on.
While most of the group are volunteers who juggle their commitments with other jobs, Bakari Aisha Gombi and Hassan are among the 228 male and female hunters who were recruited on a more formal basis last year by a local government official to wage war against the insurgency.
The Friends of Regent Primary School (FORPS), Maitama, Abuja, has donated two manual boreholes to the Kogo II and Barangoni communities in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative.
Chairperson of the Friends of Regent Primary School, Mrs. Salma Dahiru Muhammed, speaking at the commissioning of the boreholes which took place on Friday, 4th July 2025 in the two communities, described the project as a meaningful step in the group’s ongoing commitment to community development and social impacts.
“Access to clean water is a basic human necessity, yet it remains a challenge in many parts of Abuja. This initiative is aimed at providing sustainable potable water, thereby promoting better health, supporting development, and improving the living conditions of the beneficiary communities.
“These boreholes are testament and benefits of collective action and a shared vision and the attendant positive impacts,” she noted, while expressing gratitude to all donors and volunteers who contributed to the success of the projects, emphasizing that their generosity made the intervention possible. She reaffirmed the group’s dedication to continuing efforts to uplift underserved communities.
Also speaking at the event, the Headmaster of Regent Primary School, Mr. Shaun Stockden said that the borehole project was conceived and completed in just seven months. “We organize annual fundraisers that support impactful community projects, and we look forward to initiating more of such interventions.”
Vice Chairperson of the Friends of Regent Primary School, Mrs. Fiona Ewa recounted a viral video showing both people and animals sharing the same water source in some rural communities, an image that deeply moved the group to take action. “We knew something had to be done,” she said.
“Providing a clean, sustainable, and reliable source of drinking water can significantly improve hygiene and living standards of the people. Each borehole is estimated to supply up to 3,000 liters of water daily,” she said.
In appreciation, Chief Samuel Gimba of Kogo II and Mr. Timothy Yohana of Barangoni communities both in Bwari Area Council, expressed heartfelt thanks to the Friends of Regent Primary School and acknowledged the life changing nature of the donation, while pledging differently to maintain the facilities responsibly.
CampusLife
A Joyous Milestone: Pamela Iweze Celebrates Daughter’s Graduation with Pride, Purpose, and a Message of Hope
Reporter: SANDRA ANI
In a heartfelt celebration filled with joy, pride, and inspiration, Ms Pamela Iweze—renowned advocate and founder of Olivedoor Community CIC and the Pamela Iweze Kingdom Children Foundation (PIKCF)—witnessed a deeply personal milestone as her daughter, Princess Christiana Adebisi a Classical trained Music Scholar from the famous London Music Fund, graduated from the prestigious Royal Alexandra and Albert School.
The graduation ceremony was a proud and emotional moment not only for the family but for a broader community that has watched Ms Iweze dedicate her life to advocating for children, empowering women, and building bridges of support between Nigeria and the UK. For the many who gathered—family, friends, and well-wishers from both sides of the Atlantic—it was a celebration of legacy, resilience, and the fulfilment of a mother’s dream.
“It’s an incredible blessing to see my daughter achieve this milestone,” Ms Iweze shared emotionally. “Over the years, I’ve stood beside so many families celebrating their children’s growth. Today, I’m grateful to be the one celebrating mine.”
Princess Christiana’s achievement stands as a testament not only to her dedication but to the enduring value that Nigerians in the diaspora continue to bring to their host communities.
Her success adds to the growing number of Nigerian youths abroad who are making meaningful contributions—academically, socially, and professionally—putting Nigeria in a positive global spotlight.
This moment is also a powerful reminder of the intellectual excellence that Nigerians have long demonstrated across the world. It reinforces the importance of education, particularly for the girl child, and affirms that given the right support and encouragement, Nigerian girls can rise to the highest levels of academic and personal success.
For Ms Iweze, the occasion was more than a graduation—it was the embodiment of everything she has worked for: creating opportunities, nurturing potential, and promoting the importance of strong family and community values.
In a joint congratulatory message, Olivedoor Community CIC UK and PIKCF Nigeria commended Princess Christiana for exemplifying the very principles they stand for: excellence, integrity, and service.
Her journey, they noted, reflects the hope of a new generation of Nigerians shaping the future with courage and conviction.
As the celebrations continue, this milestone reminds us all that the empowerment of one child—especially a girl—can echo across nations, inspire communities, and transform futures.
Spotlight
PRCAN Congratulates Mrs. Bolajoko Bayo-Ajayi on Her Historic Election as President of NIMN
Reporter: SANDRA ANI
The Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN) has extended its heartfelt congratulations to Mrs. Bolajoko Bayo-Ajayi on her election as the President of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN).
In a statement signed by Dr. Nkechi Ali-Balogun, fnipr, Chair/CEO of PRCAN, the association described Mrs. Bayo-Ajayi’s election as a landmark achievement and a significant moment in the history of the marketing and communications profession in Nigeria.
“On behalf of PRCAN, I extend our warmest congratulations to Mrs. Bolajoko Bayo-Ajayi on her historic election as the first female President of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria. Her emergence is not only a celebration of professional excellence but also a beacon of inspiration to practitioners across the integrated marketing communications industry,” Dr. Ali-Balogun stated.
She further noted that Mrs. Bayo-Ajayi’s distinguished career and consistent dedication to the development of the marketing profession have earned her this well-deserved recognition.
“Her leadership comes at a critical time in Nigeria’s evolving marketing and communications landscape. We are confident that NIMN will continue to thrive under her visionary guidance, championing innovation, professionalism, gender inclusion, and sustainable growth in the sector,” she added.
PRCAN expressed optimism about strengthening institutional collaborations between NIMN and PRCAN to advance professional development and capacity building in Nigeria’s integrated marketing communications ecosystem.
“We look forward to deeper synergy between our two organisations as we collectively strive to elevate standards, empower practitioners, and shape the future of our industry,” the statement concluded.
PRCAN once again congratulates Mrs. Bayo-Ajayi on this outstanding achievement and wishes her a successful and impactful tenure.
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