A lawmaker from Gombe State has appealed to the Federal Government to intervene urgently in the growing menace of hippopotamus attacks that have continued to devastate farmlands and endanger lives in Difa community, Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area of the state.
Farmers in the agrarian community say the incidents have become increasingly frequent, forcing many to abandon their farmlands or spend nights in makeshift shelters to guard their crops. The hippos, which inhabit nearby rivers, often stray into farmlands, destroying large portions of rice, maize, and okra plantations.
One farmer recounted losing up to 15 bags of harvested produce annually due to hippo incursions, adding that the cost of hiring youths to keep watch at night has further worsened their plight.
The lawmaker, who raised the alarm over the situation, described the attacks as a threat to food security and local livelihoods. He called on the Federal Ministry of Environment and the National Parks Service to collaborate with the Gombe State Government to find a lasting solution.
Environmental experts attribute the surge in attacks to the depletion of natural vegetation during the dry season, which forces hippos to forage further inland in search of food. To address this, the state government, through its Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, is considering the establishment of a hippopotamus sanctuary to provide a safe habitat for the animals.
Similarly, the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project has proposed the planting of grasses and aquatic vegetation along riverbanks to serve as feed for the hippos and reduce their encroachment on farmlands.
Officials are also discussing the enforcement of buffer zones along rivers and the deployment of forest guards or surveillance drones to monitor wildlife movements.
Residents, however, insist that immediate federal intervention is necessary to prevent further loss of lives and livelihoods. “We cannot continue to live in fear every night,” one farmer lamented. “The government must act before the situation gets out of control.”
As authorities deliberate on long-term solutions, many in Difa community continue to count their losses, hoping that relief will soon come for both the people and the wildlife that share their land.
