Imolites Urges Gov Ihedioha To Fish Out Faces Behind Imo Zoo Invasion

OGBONNA IWUAGWU

Following the recent invasion of Imo State Zoological Garden and Wildlife Park by some youths in Nekede community, lovers of nature in Imo State have called on Gov. Emeka Ihedioha to fish out those behind the ugly development.

They said the action of the community could only be described as a selfish acquisition of land against the general interest of Imo people and lovers of nature.

Recall that operatives of Imo State Police Command had stormed the zoo and arrested some members of Nekede community, who invaded the facility with bulldozers and laid claim to the zoo forest.

A community source told P.M.EXPRESS reporter that the forest inside the zoo had been ceded to them by a Court of competent jurisdiction.

The source also revealed that some government officials were behind their action.

But the Imo Government through the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Environment, Mr. Gilber Nnah, said the claim of the community was not known to Government and the Ministry of Environment, which is supervising the zoo.

Gov. Emeka Ihedioha had during the 2019 World Environmental Day announced his plan to upgrade the zoo to international standard and had subsequently awarded contract for the renovation of all animal houses and the erection of new administrative building.

Dr. Frank Nwachukwu, who visited the zoo on Sunday, described the action of the community as barbaric and wickedness against nature.

He said the invaders should be fished out and prosecuted for violating the law and animals right. He alleged that some top government officials were behind the community and warned that if the forest is ceded to the community, the natural heritage of the zoo is gone.

Another tourist, Mr. Ben Nwajuba, said “The zoo forest is the natural heritage of the state and must not be allowed to be taken over land grabbers who only want to acquire land and subsequently sell it off.

Nwajuba further explained that the zoo is the only surviving zoo in the whole of South-East, but wondered why Ihedioha has not taken a firm decision on the matter.

Also, leader of a group who came on research, Mr. Okechukwu Anyawu, criticized the alleged invasion and also urged government to fish out the perpetrators. He said the zoo and the forest are all protected by the law of Eastern Nigeria and also the Land Use Act, but wondered why the community will want to kill the dream of the Governor for the zoo.