BY JULIET EKWENUGO
Kaduna
A wildlife and environmental journalist has called for urgent government intervention over the persistent killing of migratory bats at the garden surrounding the Kaduna State House of Assembly.
The appeal was made at the weekend following a field survey conducted at the Assembly complex in Kaduna, where thousands of bats roost annually during their migration season.
Ibrahima Yakubu, Head of Communication and Strategies at African Climate Reporters, expressed concern over what he described as “systematic and unchecked attacks” on the bats, which travel long distances annually to the historic garden to breed.
Yakubu said the Assembly garden has over the years provided a conducive habitat for the migratory species due to its tall trees and relatively cool environment. According to him, millions of bats arrive in specific months to give birth before returning to their original destinations.
He, however, lamented that the annual migration period has increasingly become a hunting season for bushmeat dealers and illegal wildlife traders.
“Hunters use catapults and stones to kill the bats. They sell each bat for between ₦200 and ₦300, depending on the size,” he said.
The Newsfactual gathered that some hunters arrive at the garden with bags and sacks, killing as many as 50 to 60 bats daily before transporting them to undisclosed locations for sale.
Yakubu warned that the continued slaughter of the bats could drastically reduce their population and disrupt the ecological balance of the area.
“When injured bats are unable to complete their return migration, it affects the species’ survival rate. Beyond that, bats play a critical role in pest control and maintaining environmental stability,” he added.
One of the hunters, who identified himself as Denial Auta, admitted to killing and roasting bats for sale. He said the trade provides income for his household and enables him to pay his children’s school fees.
He further disclosed that hunters are aware of the precise months the bats migrate to the Assembly garden, making it easier to target them.
Further investigations revealed that groups of hunters often gather behind the Assembly garden in the evenings to carry out the killings.
A horticulture vendor operating near the garden, who requested anonymity, decried the destruction of plants and flowers caused by the hunters’ activities. The vendor urged the state government to intervene to protect both the environment and small-scale businesses operating in the area.
Yakubu called on the Kaduna State Government and security agencies to deploy personnel to the garden to deter illegal hunting and ensure the arrest of offenders. He also advocated sustained public awareness campaigns to educate residents about the ecological importance of bats and the need to protect migratory species.
He stressed that enforcement of wildlife protection laws must go hand in hand with community engagement to dispel myths and reduce hostility toward bats.
The development, observers note, mirrors global concerns about biodiversity loss. A 2022 United Nations report warned that nearly one million plant and animal species worldwide face the risk of extinction due to climate change, pollution and human activities.
Yakubu maintained that immediate and coordinated action by government, conservation groups and civil society organisations is critical to preserving the migratory bats and safeguarding biodiversity in Kaduna.
“Protecting these bats is not just about saving a species; it is about preserving our ecosystem for future generations,” he said.
