The police also arrested three persons identified as the owners of the monkeys for using the animals to constitute public nuisance in Mile One area of the Rivers State capital.
Trouble started when a passerby complained of losing the sum of N10,000 after passing through the point where owners of the monkeys, who appear to be foreigners, engaged the wild animals in acrobatic display within the area.
Operatives of the Mile One Police Station intervened in the matter and arrested three owners of the monkeys and their pet.
One of the policemen at Mile One Police Station told newsmen that two of the monkeys had pounced on him when the owners were arrested and taken to police station before he shot them.
"These people (monkey owners) use their monkeys for acrobatic display and when people gather to watch, they speak to their monkeys and they (monkeys) pounce on people.
"Before you know it, these same persons going about with monkeys will take advantage of the commotion and take people's money. They have their followers around.
"When we arrested them (monkeys and their owners), two of the three monkeys pounced on me as their owners were taken into police custody. I brought out my pistol and shot them," the police officer, who prefers anonymity, added.
On the claim by members of the public that one of the monkeys could not be killed after being shot many times, the policeman dismissed the claim, adding that the third monkey did not attack him.
Residents of the area had said that a monkey, which took away a huge sum of money from a businessman at Mile One Market, watched while policemen fired more than 30 bullets at it without being hurt.
A huge crowd had gathered at the Mile One Police Station to catch a glimpse of the dead monkey and another one that was tied to a pole.
However, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ahmad Mohammad, told our correspondent that he was not aware of the incident.
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The much dreaded ebola virus is said to be transferred through monkeys, it is therefore dangerous to carry monkey and play with it in the public, more so that it is being carried out by foreigners.
ReplyDeletePolice should not only kill the monkeys but carry out more deeper investigations.
It is a criminal offense to kill animals that are becoming extinct. It is also criminal to use such animals for commercial entertainment. The Policeman is boasting bcos he is ignorant of the offence he has committed by shooting the monkeys to death. Nigeria signed an international treaty to spare such animals but Nigeria Police doesn't know of its existence. Our Policemen need more education from the highest to the least.
ReplyDeleteIgnorance of the law is not an excuse.
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