Borno confirms killing of lion in Sambisa Forest

Borno State government has confirmed the killing of a lion by a combined team of local hunters on the fringes of Sambisa Forest in Konduga Local Council.

The lion reportedly strayed from the Waza Game Reserve of Cameroun before it was intercepted and killed. Confirming the incident in Maiduguri, yesterday, the Director of Forestry and Wildlife in the state’s Ministry of Environment, Peter Ayuba, said: “The lion might have strayed from the Game Reserve of Cameroun. We have similar incidents of elephants from the Reserve entering villages in Kala/Balge council of the state.”

Noting the incident of some hyenas that killed a man in the Konduga bush, he attributed the influx of wild animals to absence of human activities in some rural communities for several years.

According to him, the farmlands, which remained fallow for over a decade, have turned into thick forest.

“Years of absence of human beings made the animals in reserves to be wandering and attacking villagers on the forest fringes,” he said, noting that the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) were returning to communities with the restoration of peace.

Warning the returnees to be vigilant and careful always, he said the lion killed on Sunday could have led others lurking from the forest.

Information officer of the council, Asheikh Chabbol, said that irrigation farmers were chased away by the lion.

This, according to him, prompted the farmers to engage the hunters to pursue and kill the lion. Two hunters, he disclosed, were injured and are being treated at the Konduga General Hospital.

“Body of the lion has been brought to the Ministry of Environment for documentation and preservation,” he said.