Fear to Festivity: Kebbi Farmers and Fishermen End Weeks-Long Hunt of Deadly Hippo

• Residents of Yauri in Kebbi state are in high spirits after a weeks-long hunt ended with the killing of a feared hippo and its calf
• The hippo, responsible for a fisherman’s death and widespread fear, was tracked down by local farmers and fishermen
• The successful hunt brings relief to the community, highlighting the ongoing challenges of human-wildlife conflict in the region

In the remote town of Yauri in Kebbi, north-western Nigeria, a palpable sense of triumph fills the air.

Residents of the town, a resilient mix of rice farmers and fishermen, have just concluded a harrowing weeks-long hunt, culminating in the demise of a rare but dreaded hippo and its calf.

This formidable creature had cast a long shadow over Yauri, its presence a constant source of dread.

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The terror reached its peak when the hippo claimed the life of a fisherman, a trusted aide to the local traditional leader.

This tragic event spurred the Kebbi state government into action, decreeing that the hippo be eliminated to safeguard the riverside community.

Nigeria’s hippo population, once robust, has dwindled alarmingly over the decades, with current estimates suggesting a mere hundred remain, mostly confined to conservation areas.

Yauri residents celebrate after slaying dangerous Hippo

Yet, the hippo in Yauri defied these odds, roaming freely and instilling fear.

The young men of Yauri, armed with locally crafted spears known as “zagos,” embarked on a relentless pursuit. Their determination bore fruit as they finally brought down the animal.

The carcass, a symbol of their victory, was ferried by canoe to the palace of a high-ranking administrator under the Emir of Yauri. There, it was meticulously butchered, and the meat was distributed among the grateful community, a testament to their unity and resilience.

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“We are a town of fishermen and farmers and this hippo has made many to stop going out due to fear of an attack,” resident Sani Yauri told the BBC.

“Apart from killing a member of the emir’s staff, it also seriously injured another person - not also forgetting the damage it regularly does to our farmlands.”

The hippo had often been spotted near the town's paddy fields along the riverbanks.

Despite being herbivores, Hippopotamus can become highly aggressive when threatened or when their habitats are disturbed, resulting in around 500 human fatalities annually in Africa.

Guard fatally attacked by Hippopotamus

Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that a mother hippopotamus killed Usman Maigadi, a 60-year-old guard at Orchid Farm in the Yauri local government area (LGA) of Kebbi state.

The farm is owned by Muhammad Abdullahi, the Emir of Yauri.

Proofreading by James, Ojo Adakole, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng