By Sola Ojo, Abuja
Concerned environmental advocates and scientists have raised the alarm over the mass killing of migratory bats at the Kaduna State House of Assembly complex, calling on the Kaduna State Government to take urgent action.
Ancient trees surrounding the Lord Lugard House, which houses the Kaduna State House of Assembly, are known for hosting thousands of migrating bats for years.
However, the indiscriminate killing of these bats in recent times is of great concern to environmental advocates and scientists, considering the role these mammals play in the ecosystem.
“Every day, local hunters around the Kaduna State House of Assembly use catapults to kill approximately 50 migratory bats.”
“These bats are often targeted near the historic trees behind the Assembly, where the hunters shoot them from a distance. An investigation revealed that a group of about five hunters is responsible for the daily killings,” a source said in confidence.
The bats migrate annually from distant locations to give birth in the area before returning to their homes. The increasing number of bat hunters in the region poses a significant threat to the local bat population, highlighting the urgent need for authorities to intervene and stop the killings.
A hunter admitted that he kills many bats, takes them home, and prepares them as food, describing them as “delicious.”
According to scientists from African Climate Reporters, if these attacks continue, the bat population could face extinction, following the fate of other historically significant bird species.
“It is crucial for the state government to take swift action to end these attacks on bats near the Kaduna State House of Assembly.”
“Immediate arrests of those involved are necessary to prevent further harm to the species.”
“There is also a pressing need to raise awareness among the public and encourage society to join the fight against the hunting of bats and other wildlife.”
“Non-governmental organizations dedicated to protecting endangered species should also take a stand against wildlife destruction,” the group said in a Facebook post.
A United Nations report from 2022 highlighted that one million plant and animal species worldwide are at risk of extinction due to human activities.
So, the continued killing of bats in Kaduna only exacerbates this crisis, hence the call on the people of Kaduna to join hands in bringing this issue to the attention of the state government and help ensure the protection of bat species for coming generations.