Deborah Akinyosoye
The lawmaker representing Yamaltu/Deba Federal Constituency, Gombe State, Inuwa Garba, has called on the relevant Federal Government agencies to tackle the incessant attacks of hippopotamus on his constituents, which have resulted to deaths in recent times.
Garba made the plea on Thursday through a motion of urgent public importance at a plenary session presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Hon Benjamin Kalu.
Gombe and neighbouring Bauchi State are home to species of wildlife, including bush pigs, buffalo, elephants, and zebras, among others. However, reports of human attacks are not common.
Addressing his colleagues, the Peoples Democratic Party lawmaker noted that in recent times, “There have been recurrent and deadly attacks by hippopotamuses in several communities within Yamaltu/Deba Federal Constituency of Gombe State, particularly affecting fishermen and other farmers whose activities revolve around rivers and farmlands in the area.
“The House notes that these attacks have led to the tragic loss of lives of some fishermen and farmers, as well as the destruction of crops, thereby inflicting untold hardship on the affected families and communities whose livelihoods depend heavily on fishing and agriculture.
“The constant presence of these wild animals around rivers and farmlands in these locations has instilled fear and panic among residents, forcing many farmers and fishermen to abandon their means of livelihood, thus worsening the poverty and food insecurity situation in the constituency.”
According to him, “On October 5, a canoe was attacked and one Yahaya Bawa was killed and many others were injured.”
He expressed concern that the continuous attacks, if left unchecked, “may escalate into a major humanitarian and economic crises, as more people become displaced, livelihoods destroyed, and agricultural productivity further diminished.”
The affected people, he added, deserve urgent response and intervention to arrest the situation.
Garba further reminded the House that if nothing is urgently done to address the challenges of wildlife encroachment, habitat management, and community protection in the affected areas, “the entire area will be deserted and food insufficiency will automatically set in due to low agricultural activities.”
The House thereafter adopted the motion, directing the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission to provide motorised boats for the ease of movement of farmers, goods, and services in the riverine areas of the federal constituency.
The House also urged the Federal Government to set up an inter-agency committee of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, National Emergency Management Agency, and HYPPADEC to immediately assess the extent of the damage with a view to providing relief materials and compensations to the affected communities.
It further called for collaboration with other relevant wildlife and environmental agencies to design and implement sustainable measures to control the movement of hippopotamuses and protect the citizens in the affected areas in the federal constituency.
The House mandated the House Committees on HYPPADEC, Water Resources, and Agricultural Production and Services to pay a fact-finding visit to the affected communities for on-the-spot assessment of the attacks and proffer lasting solutions.