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.
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.
Spotlight
Obasanjo, Christ Embassy, and Eminent Nigerians Honour Pastor Sylvester Ebhodaghe at 50
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and top dignitaries celebrate media leader and minister at milestone birthday thanksgiving, reports SANDRA ANI


A constellation of national leaders, spiritual luminaries, and prominent Nigerians gathered on Thursday to honour Pastor Sylvester Ebhodaghe—publisher of National Daily Newspaper and National Standard Magazine—as he marked his 50th birthday with a grand Thanksgiving Service and Banquet at Christ Embassy, Isheri, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Among the high-profile attendees was former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who lauded Pastor Ebhodaghe for his steadfast commitment to God and his enduring service to humanity. In a heartfelt goodwill message, Obasanjo commended the celebrant’s journey of faith and purpose.
“An occasion like this is not just for celebration, but for deep gratitude to God. Fifty years and nine months, counting from your mother’s womb, is no small milestone,” Obasanjo said. Reflecting on life beyond the golden jubilee, he added, “After 50 glorious years of grace and divine favour, the next chapter must be about even greater service—to God, and through that, to humanity. I pray you enjoy another half-century of impactful living.”
In a touching conclusion, the former president remarked, “When you celebrate your next 50 years, I may no longer be here. But wherever I am, I will be remembering you.”
A Celebration of Faith, Leadership, and Impact
The thanksgiving event drew key figures from the religious, political, business, and media spheres, creating a vibrant atmosphere of unity and reverence. The service was hosted by Christ Embassy and officiated by prominent ministers, who welcomed attendees and led the formal proceedings.
Most Reverend Tom Amenkhienan, a senior member of the Loveworld Central Executive Council, offered an anointed prayer for Pastor Ebhodaghe and his family, declaring blessings of divine health, spiritual elevation, and unstoppable progress. “Your going and your coming shall be blessed. No weapon formed against you shall prosper,” he prayed.
Delivering the sermon, Pastor Moses Olayemi of Christ Embassy Benin Zone 1 drew from Psalms 1 and 4 to illustrate the celebrant’s life as one rooted in godliness and integrity. “You can see from the calibre of individuals present today that Pastor Sylvester is a man who walks with God,” he said. He encouraged attendees to examine their spiritual walk, drawing on the biblical example of Cornelius, who despite his righteousness, sought spiritual renewal.
A Life Transformed by Calling
In an emotional vote of thanks, Pastor Sylvester Ebhodaghe paid special tribute to Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, President, Loveworld Incorporated, crediting him with a life-changing spiritual encounter.
“Twenty-seven years ago, I turned on the television and saw Pastor Chris preaching. I heard a voice say, ‘Your destiny is connected to his ministry.’ That moment changed the course of my life,” he shared, visibly moved.
Pastor Ebhodaghe also thanked his family, friends, colleagues, and fellow ministers for their unwavering support and encouragement over the decades.


Guest List
The celebratory banquet saw an impressive turnout of distinguished personalities from across various sectors. Alongside Chief Obasanjo were:
Otunba Oyewole Fasawe, businessman and political figure
Sir Dr. Mike Okiro, former Inspector General of Police
Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, Chairman, MTN Nigeria Communications Plc
Prince Bisi Olatilo, Chairman, Biscon Communications Group
Dr. Uche Ogah, President, Masters Energy Group
Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan, Director, Lagos State Security Trust Fund
Mr. Oladimeji Oresanya, Ogun State Commissioner for Environment
Dr. Tola Salah, Special Adviser on STEM to the Kwara State
Entertainment
Elie Kamano’s Anthem Amplifies Pan-African Reparations Call with Striking New Music Video


Guinean artist and activist Elie Kamano has released a powerful new music video for his single, “Ils veulent l’Afrique sans les Africains” (“They Want Africa Without Africans”), delivering a bold artistic statement that fuses political resistance, cultural memory, and Pan-African solidarity.
Filmed on the sacred grounds of the Thiaroye mass graves in Dakar, the video honors victims of one of colonialism’s most heinous massacres. Kamano’s visual tribute transforms the site into a defiant stage, linking Africa’s historical trauma to the modern reparations movement. With raw lyricism and symbolic imagery, the video makes a clear demand: “Africa will reclaim what Europe stole.”
The release arrives at a pivotal moment. The African Union has declared 2025 as the Year of Reparations, providing institutional momentum to cultural and civic efforts across the continent. In Dakar, a recent high-profile conference reignited demands for justice surrounding the Thiaroye massacre, leading Senegalese authorities to launch archaeological excavations to document the scope of the 1944 French military crime—evidence that may substantiate formal reparations claims to France.
The reparations conversation has visibly moved to the streets. Dakar’s walls now feature bold graffiti murals demanding €50 trillion in reparations from former colonial powers—vivid calls for justice that cannot be ignored. In Bamako, Malian scholars and policymakers echo the urgency, calling for strategic frameworks that link historical redress with sustainable African futures.
Kamano’s work stands at the intersection of music and movement—galvanizing Pan-African youth, scholars, and policymakers alike. His anthem doesn’t just commemorate the past—it ignites the future.
“This is not just a song,” says Kamano. “It’s a voice for the voiceless. A call for dignity. A battle cry for what is rightfully ours.”
-
Reviews3 days ago
Book Review of The Village Priest by Remmy Nweke @NDSF 2025
-
GRTech3 days ago
Nnaemeka Ani Admonishes African Techies to Build for Legacy
-
Spotlight8 hours ago
Obasanjo, Christ Embassy, and Eminent Nigerians Honour Pastor Sylvester Ebhodaghe at 50
-
Spotlight8 hours ago
PRCAN Congratulates Mrs. Bolajoko Bayo-Ajayi on Her Historic Election as President of NIMN