Former Bayelsa NUJ chairman raises alarm over indiscriminate killings of gorillas in Nembe, Ogbia forests

Former Chairman of the Bayelsa State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists and Wildlife enthusiast, Tarinyo Akono has raised alarm over the indiscriminate killing of gorillas  in the Edumanom National Forest in Nembe and Ogbia local government areas of the Bayelsa State.

Akono who raised the alarm in a chat with journalists in Yenagoa said  the gorillas  is classified as an endangered specie and must be protected.

The former NUJ boss called on government to take urgent steps to check the killing of the gorillas, stressing that government has a duty to protect wild animal listed as endangered species.

He said it was disheartening to see two gorillas killed in a single day this year, adding that between January 2022 to date seven gorillas have been killed for bush meat.

Akono also called on traditional rulers in the two LGAs, particularly in Etiema and Akepelai communities to warn their people not to kill the gorillas, adding that in the  Wildlife Protection Act of 2016 the killing of gorilla attract a 10 years jail term.

The gorillas if made friendly enough will attract tourists and will serve as a huge revenue earner for our state he said.