The Benue State Police Command has categorically denied the news circulating on social media platforms claiming that a rural farmer in Kwande Local Government Area of the state killed a lion. SP Catherine Anene, the Public Relations Officer of the command, stated during a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the social media report is false.
Anene clarified that the same picture of a lion killing is posted annually on social media, and there is no truth to it. She emphasized that the news is entirely fabricated and a lie.
The police spokesperson warned the public against spreading false information and assured that those responsible for disseminating such misleading reports will be held accountable.
Additionally, Mrs. Kate Atsaga, the acting chairman of Kwande Local Government Area, who is also the Director-General of Services and Administration, confirmed to NAN that no lion had been killed in the area. Atsaga stated that she had not received any information regarding the killing of a lion by a resident of Kwande.
She further explained that while there have been security concerns in the Shangev-Ya axis involving Mbakya and Mzev, leading to the arrest of two traditional rulers, there is no truth to the claims of a lion being killed. Atsaga emphasized that nobody has informed her of such an incident, and she is unaware of any individual from Kwande killing a lion.
The statements from both the police command and the local government acting chairman affirm that the reports circulating on social media regarding the killing of a lion in Benue State are baseless and unfounded.