A tragic incident has occurred in Adamawa State, as at least one person has been confirmed dead following an invasion by displaced hippopotamuses in the Guyuk and Shelleng local government areas, according to local authorities.
Mr. Shalom Kassa, Chairman of Guyuk Local Government, disclosed the development on Monday during a visit to the Banjiram community, stating that a young man was killed after being attacked by one of the animals.
The hippopotamuses, believed to have been displaced by recent flooding around the Kiri Dam in Shelleng, have reportedly entered nearby communities, farmlands, and riverbanks, sparking widespread panic among residents.
“This is a serious threat to human lives and means of livelihoods,” Kassa said. “The animals are destroying farmlands, invading flooded homes, and endangering both residents and livestock.”
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Kassa, along with his Shelleng counterpart, Alhaji Abubakar Abba, and traditional leaders, including the Kwandi Nunguraya of Guyuk, Kuruhaye, visited Yola, the state capital, to formally seek intervention from the government.
He explained that continuous flooding in the region had forced the animals from their natural habitats, pushing them closer to densely populated areas. However, he noted that residents remain powerless to defend themselves due to existing wildlife protection laws that prohibit harming or killing hippopotamuses.
He urged the state Ministry of Environment, wildlife officials, and other relevant agencies to urgently intervene to prevent further losses.
Kassa also extended condolences to the families affected by the recent floods in Yola, where five persons reportedly died and 55 others were hospitalized.
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Responding to the concerns, the Secretary to the Adamawa State Government, Mr. Awwal Tukur, who received the visiting delegation, assured them that appropriate action would be taken to mitigate the crisis and ensure public safety.
As of now, efforts are ongoing to assess the extent of the invasion and coordinate emergency responses, while affected communities remain on high alert.