By Emmanuel Nduka Obisue
A member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives representing Yamaltu/Deba Federal Constituency of Gombe State, Inuwa Garba, has called on the Bola Tinubu-led Government to urgently intervene to stop frequent hippopotamus attacks that have claimed lives and destroyed farmlands in his constituency.
Heritage Times HT reports that Garba made the appeal on Thursday through a motion of urgent public importance during plenary presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu.
He said several communities in his constituency had suffered recurrent and deadly attacks by hippopotamuses, particularly affecting fishermen and farmers whose livelihoods depend on rivers and farmlands. “There have been recurrent and deadly attacks by hippopotamuses in several communities within Yamaltu/Deba Federal Constituency of Gombe State, particularly affecting fishermen and other farmers whose activities revolve around rivers and farmlands in the area,” he stated.
According to him, “The House notes that these attacks have led to tragic loss of lives of some fishermen and farmers, as well as destruction of crops, thereby inflicting untold hardship on the affected families and communities whose livelihoods depend heavily on fishing and agriculture. The constant presence of these wild animals around rivers and farmlands in these locations has instilled fear and panic among residents, forcing many farmers and fishermen to abandon their means of livelihood, thus worsening the poverty and food insecurity situation in the constituency”.
Garba recalled that on October 5, a canoe conveying residents was attacked by a hippopotamus, resulting in the death of one Yahaya Bawa, while several others sustained injuries. He warned that if left unchecked, the attacks could escalate into a humanitarian and economic crisis as more residents flee their farms and fishing sites.
Following the motion, the House directed the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission, HYPPADEC) to provide motorised boats to facilitate the safe movement of farmers, goods, and services in the affected riverine communities.
It also urged the Federal Government to set up an inter-agency committee comprising the Federal Ministries of Agriculture and Food Security, Water Resources, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and HYPPADEC to assess the extent of damage and provide relief materials and compensation to affected communities.
Furthermore, the House called for collaboration with relevant wildlife and environmental agencies to design and implement sustainable measures to control hippopotamus movements and protect residents in the area.
Gombe and neighbouring Bauchi State are home to various species of wildlife, including bush pigs, buffaloes, elephants, and zebras. However, reports of human attacks remain relatively rare in the region.
