Anxiety as gorilla escapes Jos wildlife park, engages napping security man

THERE was a pandemonium at Jos wildlife Park on Monday following escape of a gorilla from its cage as a result of negligence of some staff of the park saddled with the responsibility of taking care of the animals.

A source close to the park revealed that the incident occurred in the early hours of Monday when some of the attendants who had gone to feed the gorilla and other animals forgot to close the cage thus creating room for the animal to gain freedom.

The source added that the gorilla which is one of the oldest animals at the park was suddenly seen strolling around, forcing many to scamper for safety while those who had reported for work especially women dashed into their vehicles and took off.

It was gathered that the gorilla entered into a tent where a security man was napping within the park and engaged the soldier in a serious scuffle; the soldier however refused to shoot the animal but succeeded in chasing the gorilla away, but the animal inflicted injury on the security man.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that the management of the park has engaged some experts along with security men to comb the park and its surrounding to apprehend the gorilla while those living within vicinity of the park now restrain their movements to avoid an encounter with the animal believed to be lurking in the neighbourhood.

Efforts to reach the management of the park proved abortive but the State Commissioner for Tourism, Peter Mwakon confirmed the incident adding that the state government was on top of the situation.

“We are trying to guide it back to its cage,” he added.

It would be recalled that a lion escaped from the park some time ago, causing fear and anxiety across the Plateau state capital, before it was later found and shot dead within the premises of the park.

A cross section of people living within the vicinity of the park who spoke with Nigerian Tribune implored the state government to train staff of the park to be more professional in their work, adding that cases of escaped animals were becoming too rampant and were capable of preventing tourists from visiting the park.