Index to Nigerian Newspapers

Monkeys from the Lekki Conservation Centre (LCC) have become a menace for residents of Lekki community on Lagos Island, raiding their homes to steal and eat human food. The residents have complained to the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, but no serious effort has been made to tackle the menace. The community is blaming the invasion of residents' homes on an alleged failure by LCC to pay attention to the feeding of the animals or design a way of preventing them from encroaching on the humans' space. The menace is becoming scarier with reports that monkeys harbour some zoonotic diseases, including monkeypox and Herbesvirus B (Virus B). Herpesvirus B spreads from infected macaque monkeys to human beings. The Guardian visited the affected areas of Chevron Estate and Orchid Road in Lekki, where residents reported seeing monkeys daily. Non-harvesting of the monkeys had led to an increase in the population and cases of conflicts. Experts said there is a need to determine the ideal population of monkeys that could be sustained without harming or disturbing residents of the neighbouring communities, or leading to human-monkey conflict.