Fishermen in Dadin Kowa community of Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area, Gombe State, have cried out over increasing attacks on them by hippopotamus.
Malam Sa’adu Adamu, leader of the fishermen in the area, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)) in Gombe, the state capital, on Thursday, March 28, 2019 that the daily attacks by the dreaded animal is affecting their business and posing threat to their lives.
According to him, the animals are multiplying fast with over 100 of them now in Dadin Kowa river.
“The animals normally come out around 2am in the night to destroy the fishing equipment and attack our people, but thank God there is no loss of lives in recent time.
‘“But previously the dreaded animal claimed so many lives particularly of children swimming and fishing in the river.
‘’If you go to the river bank, you will see about seven graves of people who were killed by the animal,’’ he said.
Adamu said most villagers depending on fishing for their livelihood are experiencing set back because of the menace of the hippopotamus.
Adamu explained that the animals migrated from Cameroon through Kiru dam in Adamawa down to Dadin Kowa.
The leader of the fishermen, said they want relevant authorities to act promptly and help in finding lasting solution to their predicament, because fishing is their only means of survival.
In 2014 a rampaging hippopotamus near the Dadin Kowa dam was shot dead by solders with the help of local hunters in the community.
The Gombe State Ministry of Environment and Forest Resources had announced its commitment to protecting the hippopotamus, to ensure they do not go into extinction because they are endangered species.
By Hajara Leman
