/ 18 December 2000

ELEPHANTS ON RAMPAGE IN NIGERIA

RAMPAGING elephants have ravaged vast stretches of farmlands and sacked 44 villages in north Nigeria. Government officials and witnesses said the elephants strayed from a nearby game reserve over the weekend and attacked villages in Gwoza, Chibok, Damboa, Biu, Kwaya-Kusar and Bayo Local Government Areas. The elephants destroyed farmlands, cash crops and ”economic trees”. The government plans to build a fence around the Yankari game reserves. – Reuters