By Cletus Opukeme
Delta state commissioner for information Mr. Charles Aniagwu has warned communities to save protective animals.
In a press statement, the commissioner harped following an online video where some uninformed youths were seen dragging a captured Manatee which is among protective sea animals.
His words “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* he noted.
According him, ” 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” he said.
