Panic in Plateau State as lion escapes from Jos Wild Life Park

A lion, on Wednesday, escaped from the Jos Wild Life Park in Plateau State and this has caused panic as the report got to residents of the state.

Mr John Doy, the acting General Manager, Plateau Toursim Corporation, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the lion escaped at about 8.00 a.m. while it was being fed.


Doy said that the lion, which had been in the park since 1972, "slipped through the gate of the cage when it was opened for its routine feeding.

"The animal is still within the vicinity of the park but our fear is that the park is not fenced. We are struggling to recapture it, but we want members of the public to be vigilant," he said.

The acting general manager said that he had already informed all security agencies to come to the park's assistance.



UPDATE:

The lion has been killed, according to Premium Times.

An official of the Plateau State Ministry of Tourism, in charge of the park, Abdullahi Abe, told Premium Times the animal had been shot dead.

He said the body of the lion would be taken to the National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Jos south Local Government Area the state, for preservation.

Mr. Abe said the lion did not harm anyone.

The police spokesperson, Abuh Emmanuel, said officers had hoped to recover the lion alive.

“We had dispatched our men with experts in search of the lion with the intention to recover the animal alive”.

The escape of the lion caused panic in the town as many residents stayed indoors for fear of being attacked.

The Lion after it was killed