We’ll Arrest And Jail Poacher Of Endangered Animals – Delta Govt Warns

Those who kill endangered species would henceforth be arrested, prosecuted and send to jail, Delta State Government, warned poachers of protected animals.

State Commissioner of Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, gave the warning in a statement on Monday.

BIGPEN understands the reaction followed a horrific video of threatened West African Manatee dragged down the street in Delta State which at the weekend attracted the reaction of the Minister of State for Environment, Mrs Sharon Ikeazor, who has vowed to investigate the matter.

In a trending video, described by many as ‘’distressing’’, ‘’distasteful’’, ‘’disgusting’’ and ‘’horrific’’, a captured manatee in Delta was seen being dragged on bare ground to a cruel fate by some youths.

Many people who responded to the minister’s statement also vehemently condemned the action of the youths, suggesting that the Ministry of Environment needs to carry out aggressive public enlightenment/conservative education for inhabitants of Niger Delta and other coastal region on the importance attached to protection of sea animals, according to report.

But Delta Government while reacting to it, described the development which have become an embarrassment to the state as inhuman act, saying that “anybody caught killing such animal will be jailed”

The statement reads in full below:

The attention of the Delta State Government has been drawn to a virile online video where some uninformed youths were seen dragging a captured Manatee which is among protective sea animals.

We condemn in its entirety the inhuman act of the unidentified youths whose actions have become an embarrassment to the state.

The state government seriously frowns at the actions of these youths which negates the Bonn Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals.

The government hereby warn that anyone caught hunting protective animals within the state, will be arrested and prosecuted in line with relevant laws of the land.

Let me re-emphasise that it is against the law for those in the habit of killing animals that are protected by the law.

Anybody caught killing such animal will be jailed because we cannot continue to watch people destroy our nature out of ignorance

Rather than kill such animals, people are advised to render help to them to return to their natural habitats where necessary.

The State Ministry of Information will partner its Environment counterpart and other relevant government agencies to carry out intensive campaigns on the preservation of these endangered protective animals.

To be forewarned is to be forearmed.