By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
A wildlife journalist has called on the Kaduna State House of Assembly to address the ongoing illegal hunting of migratory bats in the gardens surrounding the Assembly complex.Ibrahima Yakubu, Head of Communication and Strategies at African Climate Reporters (ACR), raised concerns during a weekend survey, noting that millions of bats travel annually to the garden to breed.
He said hunters use catapults and sticks to kill bats, selling each for ₦200–₦300, sometimes taking up to 50–60 bats per day.“ The continued attacks are reducing bat populations and disrupting their migration, threatening both the species and the ecological balance of the area,” Yakubu warned. He highlighted the role of bats in pest control and maintaining environmental health.
Investigations revealed that hunters target the garden during migration months and transport bats to undisclosed markets. A local vendor reported that hunting activities are also damaging plants and flowers in the area.
Yakubu urged the Kaduna State Government, Police Command, wildlife agencies, and civil society groups to intervene. He recommended deploying security personnel, enforcing wildlife protection laws, and conducting public education campaigns to dispel myths about bats and promote conservation.
The journalist emphasized that protecting migratory species is part of a broader global concern over biodiversity loss. In 2022, the United Nations warned that nearly one million plant and animal species face extinction due to human activities, pollution, and climate change.
Yakubu called for urgent, coordinated action to safeguard the bats and their habitat, ensuring communities can coexist with wildlife while preserving biodiversity for future generations.
