Hippopotamus, crocodiles harass Kebbi community

Wara residents in Ngaski Local Government Area of Kebbi State are keeping vigil over their lives, livestock and rice farms following frequent appearance of hippopotamus and crocodiles at the River Niger bank.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Wara is the administrative headquarters of Ngaski Local Government Area, with a population of 124,766 people on an area covering 2,633km.
The Chairman of the council, Alhaji Mahmoud Muhammad, told NAN on Friday that the appearance of the wild animals had been regular.
Muhammad said the wild animals were from the Kainji National Game Reserve.
He said: “The appearance of crocodiles and hippopotamus has so far not resulted in any loss of lives, rice farms or livestock.
“But we remain very alert in spite of excitement of the view of the animals.
“The animals stayed close to the community for between three weeks and a month and people are  used to them, but we remain very alert.”
A resident of the community, Musa Ali, said hunters and fishermen had been watchful over the animals at the river bank to protect the community.
“We caution fishermen and commercial boat owners to avoid areas that the animals are located until they return deep into the river,” Ali said.