Local authorities in Adamawa State have reported that at least one person has died and several others have been endangered due to an incursion of displaced hippopotamuses in the Guyuk and Shelleng Local Government Areas.
Mr. Shalom Kassa, the Chairman of Guyuk Local Government, stated on Monday that a young man was killed by one of the hippos during the incident in the Banjiram community.
Kassa noted that the hippopotamuses, which have been displaced by flooding near the Kiri Dam in Shelleng, have entered populated areas, farmlands, and riverbanks, instilling fear among the residents.
“This poses a significant threat to human lives and livelihoods; the animals are damaging crops, invading flooded homes, and putting both residents and livestock at risk,” he said.
In response to the situation, Kassa, along with Shelleng Local Government Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Abba and local traditional leaders, visited the government office in Yola to seek assistance.
Kassa explained that ongoing flooding in various parts of the state, particularly in Guyuk and Shelleng, has driven the animals from their natural habitats into human settlements.
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He added that residents are unable to protect themselves due to existing laws that prohibit the killing or harming of wildlife, including hippopotamuses.
“We are urging the state Ministry of Environment, wildlife officials, and relevant agencies to take immediate action before more lives are lost,” he stated.
Kassa also expressed his sympathies to the victims of recent flooding in Yola town, where five people have reportedly died and 55 others have been hospitalized.
Mr. Awwal Tukur, Secretary to the Adamawa State Government, who met with the delegation, assured them that the government would take steps to address the issue.
