Residents of the Kiri community in Adamawa State’s Shelleng Local Government Area have sounded the alarm over a surge in deadly hippopotamus attacks.
The escalating human-wildlife conflict has already claimed three lives and left several others injured.
The latest tragedy occurred last Friday, claiming the life of 65-year-old Yakubu Galadima—affectionately known as “Yakubu Kuri”—who was attacked while fishing.
A source said: “This particular person was a household man; he has about eight children. Yesterday, after Asr prayer, he went to the river to catch fish, as it is his means of livelihood, when he met his end.
“The incident happened when he was inside his fishing boat; the hippo appeared. At first he did not see it, and people outside saw it and tried to alert him, but he couldn’t hear them calling him.
“Before he noticed, it had already reached his boat. He got scared by its sudden appearance and jumped into the river, leaving his boat, and that is how the hippo got to him and caught him by his leg, then dragged him into the deeper side of the river.”
The source pointed out that the hippopotamus is under government protection, the community is legally powerless to defend itself or kill it.
Despite the mounting loss of lives, the Adamawa State Government has yet to break its silence or offer a plan of action.
Fearing another attack is inevitable, grief-stricken residents are now pleading with the state to prioritize human lives over administrative delays and tackle the “hippo menace” immediately.
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