
A deadly hippopotamus that recently terrorised flood-affected communities in Adamawa State, killing one person in the Guyuk area, has been killed and butchered for meat by residents in Shelleng Local Government Area.
The incident occurred days after the massive creature strayed from its natural habitat due to rising floodwaters caused by torrential rains in the region. It reportedly attacked several locals, fatally mauling a victim last week, before disappearing into the flooded plains.
Community leaders in Shelleng told our correspondent on Tuesday that the animal was sighted again near the riverbank and was swiftly neutralized by a group of hunters and local vigilantes who had been on alert since the initial attack.
“We had to act fast because it was a threat to our people. These animals may look calm in water, but they are deadly. It already killed someone in Guyuk,” said Mallam Umaru Buba, a resident of Shelleng.
He said the meat from the massive animal was shared among community members, with many expressing relief that the danger had been eliminated.
The Adamawa State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources has yet to issue an official statement on the incident. However, environmentalists have raised concerns over the increasing frequency of wildlife encroachment on human settlements due to climate-related factors, especially seasonal flooding.
Experts warn that continued habitat loss and rising water levels may trigger more human-wildlife conflicts if not urgently addressed through sustainable ecological and safety measures.