By Nura Haruna Mudi
The Kano State government is finalizing arrangements to sentence whoever kills wild animals to 10 years imprisonment without an option of a fine.
Grassroots Parrot reports that the government is worried that most of the wild animals are going into extinction, hence the need to enhance wildlife conservation in the state.
The Managing Director of the Kano State Zoological and Wildlife Management Agency (KAZOWMA), Sadiq Kura Muhammad, made this known while speaking with newsmen in Kano on Friday.
He said the state House of Assembly had passed a wildlife bill, waiting for the state governor’s assent as soon as possible.
“Part of the provisions of the bill stipulates 10-year imprisonment for individuals found guilty of killing wild animals in the state.” Muhammad said.
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The Managing Director, who insisted that illegal trafficking of wildlife would no longer be tolerated in the state, also warned the general public against hunting activities within the Falgore forest.
According to him, the agency will soon open its digital license registration for hunters to update their data in the state.
“It’s prohibited by law to kill or traffic wild animals. Some of these wild animals, including gorillas, crows, bulchers, parrots, bush rabbits, lions, elephants, and crocodiles, are prone to extinction, and they are all in the Falgore reserve.
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“Let me at this point tell the general public that there is a provision stated very clearly in the bill that anybody arrested and found guilty will be prosecuted and jailed for 10 years with no option of fine.
“Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf will soon sign the bill, hopefully early in 2025, and it will take effect immediately.”.