Photo Credit: BBC --
Residents of Yauri, a community in Kebbi State, northwestern Nigeria are celebrating the end of a weeks-long hunt for a notorious hippo that had terrorized the community, killing a fisherman and injuring another.
The rare but deadly animal, along with its calf, was finally killed by local rice farmers and fishermen using traditional spears after a concerted effort to stop its rampage.
According to the BBC, the fear of the hippo’s attacks gripped the town after it killed a fisherman who worked for the local traditional ruler, sparking widespread concern. The State government stepped in and ordered the animal to be hunted down to protect the safety of those living along the banks of the River Niger.
Nigeria's hippo population, BBC reported, has been dwindling in recent decades, with estimates suggesting there are only around 100 left, mostly confined to protected conservation areas. Despite the species’ endangered status, the danger posed by this particular hippo made it a priority for the local community to eliminate the threat.
After weeks of tracking, a group of young men from the town managed to kill the hippo using locally made spears called “zagos.” The carcass was then transported by canoe to the palace of a high-ranking official of the Emir of Yauri, where it was butchered and distributed among the local people.
"We are a town of fishermen and farmers, and this hippo caused many to stop going out for fear of being attacked," resident Sani Yauri told the BBC. "Aside from killing a member of the emir's staff, it also seriously injured another person, and the damage to our farmlands has been significant."
The hippo had often been spotted near the rice paddies along the riverbank, where farmers feared for their safety. With the animal's death, residents were jubilant and celebrated by sharing the meat.
"We are happy it has been killed, and people came out in jubilation—everyone got their share of the meat," said Yauri. Another resident, Isa Jamilu, expressed relief that he could now return to his farm, which he had abandoned weeks earlier due to the danger posed by the hippo.
While some residents hailed the hunters for protecting the town, the killing of the hippo has sparked controversy on social media. Animal rights advocates expressed concern over the death of the endangered species. Isyaku Abdullahi, founder of Nigeria's African Voice for Animals Initiative, told the BBC, "This is an endangered species, and I was saddened to see people celebrating its death. What should have been done is to alert authorities who could have captured and relocated the animal."
Abdullahi emphasized the need for more awareness in rural communities, particularly in areas like Kebbi State, which is home to several rivers and lakes where hippos live. He believes better solutions, such as safe relocation, could prevent dangerous encounters while protecting the species.
The common hippopotamus, listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, is the third-largest land mammal and can be highly dangerous despite its herbivorous nature. Hippos are known to be aggressive when their habitat is threatened, and they are responsible for the deaths of around 500 people annually across Africa. The animals can reach speeds of up to 20mph (32km/h) and have large, sharp teeth that grow up to 20 inches in length.
Kebbi State is renowned for hosting the Argungu Fishing Festival, a cultural event on the United Nations' heritage list, which highlights the area’s close connection to the water. However, this tragic incident has raised questions about how human-animal conflicts should be managed in the future.
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