An Enugu-based wildlife activist, Barr. Chukwunonso Daniel Ogbe has petitioned the Commissioner for Culture, Tourism and Hospitality, Plateau State, over the killing of the Jos Wildlife Park lion by officials of the Jos Wildlife Park on the 2nd day of December 2015 upon its escape from the Park.

In the petition dated the 7th day of March 2016, Ogbe said:

“I wish to bring to your notice the news item that was published in most national dailies on the 2nd day of December 2015, to the effect that a lion which escaped from the Jos Wildlife Park situate in Dong, Jos North Local Government Council of Plateau State of Nigeria, was shot dead by officials of the Government of Plateau State, in the course of being recaptured after its escape.

“May I respectfully inform your office that the act of the officials of the Government of Plateau State in killing the lion described above depicts an utmost, indifferent and condemnable disregard for natural creatures bequeathed unto our dear country Nigeria by nature. This constitutes a gross violation of the non-justiciable provision of section 20 of the Nigerian Constitution, as well as the provision of article 24 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act.

“The concern raised in this regard is hinged on the fact that there are safer means by which the slain lion could have been recaptured alive without same posing any threat to human beings living within the territorial confines of Plateau State; which method(s) I reasonably believe officials of the Government of Plateau State who killed the lion are aware of.

Most worrisome is the fact that a registered charity committed to the global conservation of lions, being LionAid, noted of late that we have about thirty-four lions remaining in Nigeria, and in which case the thirty-four lions shall become extinct on or before the year 2023, unless some drastic measures are taken by the Nigerian citizenry and government at all tiers, to increase the numeric strength of the lions we have at the moment.”

Furthermore, Ogbe requested as follows:

“In view of the fore-going, I demand that your office tenders an unreserved apology to the Nigerian public over the killing of the lion which hitherto was kept in the Jos Wildlife Park. This apology has to be published in a national daily within a period of thirty days from the date of the receipt of this letter, with a promise to do all within your powers, as the representative of the Government of Plateau State of Nigeria in charge of the State Tourism Corporation of Plateau State, in ensuring that the ugly incident which gave rise to this demand does not reoccur in the nearest future. May I also request of the Government of Plateau State of Nigeria to source for a replacement of the killed lion, within a period of sixty days from the date of the receipt of this letter.

“TAKE NOTICE that should the Government of Plateau State of Nigeria fail to do as I have most humbly requested, with respect to the slain lion as afore-described, I shall activate and exhaust the plethora of legal options at my disposal which shall include but not limited to commencing an action in court in asserting the right of Nigerians to wildlife which forms part of the Nigerian environment as guaranteed under article 24 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, as have been violated by the Government of Plateau State.”

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Killing Of Jos Wildlife Park Lion: Activist Petitions Plateau State Government