Controversial Hunt of Aggressive Hippo Sparks Debate in Nigerian Town

Residents of Yauri, a town in north-western Nigeria, have been celebrating following the death of a feared hippopotamus and its calf after a prolonged hunt conducted by local rice farmers and fishermen. The hunt, which lasted several weeks, was initiated following an attack where the hippo killed a fisherman employed by the local traditional leader.

The Kebbi state government had ordered the killing of the animal to ensure the safety of the community living along the River Niger. The hippo incident had left many locals in Yauri, a community heavily reliant on fishing and farming, living in fear, resulting in them abandoning their occupational activities.

Mr. Sani Yauri, a resident of the town, told the BBC, “We are a town of fishermen and farmers, and this hippo has made many to stop going out due to fear of an attack.” The hippo had not only taken human lives but also caused significant damage to farmlands situated along the riverbank.

The animal was tracked and eventually killed by young men using traditional locally made spears known as “zagos.” After its death, the hippo’s carcass was transported by canoe to the palace of a high-ranking administrator of the Emir of Yauri, where it was butchered, and the meat distributed among the local community.

The incident has sparked mixed reactions on social media, with some praising the community for taking action to protect themselves, while others expressed concern over the treatment of the animal. The common hippopotamus is categorized as a threatened species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list.

Isyaku Abdullahi, an animal rights activist and founder of Nigeria’s African Voice for Animals Initiative, criticized the local actions, stating, “This is an endangered species, and I was sad when I saw the video clip of people celebrating after it was killed.” Abdullahi suggested that the community should have informed relevant authorities to relocate the animal instead of killing it.

The hippo’s aggressive behavior is attributed to its natural instincts; while they are herbivores, hippos can become highly aggressive when they perceive threats to themselves or their habitat, resulting in numerous human fatalities annually across Africa.

The Chairman of Yauri Local Government, Alhaji Abubakar Shu’aibu, confirmed the community’s initiative and noted that it was carried out following a directive from the Emir of Yauri. “If you could recall, the hippo killed Yauri Emir’s guard and another farmer in September. We can’t keep an animal that is killing people anyhow,” Shu’aibu stated.

Despite the successful hunt, the event highlights the ongoing challenges faced by communities living alongside dangerous wildlife and raises questions about conservation efforts and human-wildlife conflict mitigation in the region.