13th December, 2014
Mr John Doy, the General Manager (GM), Plateau Tourist Corporation, has denied rumours that two monkeys have escaped from the Wildlife Park in Jos.
Doy told NAN on Saturday in Jos that though monkeys were lower sapiens and always explored the exit routes of their caregivers for curiosity purposes, none has left the wildlife park because of the proper care they were getting.
Doy explained that the custodians of the park were well trained and the park was attached to a research team from the National Veterinary Research Institute where they give them the necessary advice.
He added that the park also had a veterinary unit where animals were given routine check-ups.
The General Manager disclosed that animals seen around the environs might be the mythical “Rikida” who transformed as beast in the night for hunting purposes.
Rikida is a Hausa word used to describe people in the occult world who change to beasts in the night to attack animals they desire.
“People mused at this but it still exist till date and the culprits are mostly hunters and butchers,” he said.
Doy said when these set of nocturnal people were transformed into animals they choose to be, they devour goats, sheep and cows and vomit them the next day for commercial purposes.
He said such animals when seen were alleged to come from the wild life park, adding that it was impossible for animals to leave their cages for hunting purposes and return the next day still caged.
“It is irrational to think locked animals wonder at night and locked themselves back when they return from their hunting expeditions,” he said.
Doy advised the public to select where they get their meat to avoid such animals.
The GM also said the animals at the park were safe from Ebola and were not carriers of the virus.