The Borno government says elephants are no longer living in the Sambisa forest.
Ayuba Peter, director of the Forestry and Wildlife in the Ministry of Environment, said the last survey made by the government regarding the presence of elephants in the forest showed that there was none.
“We conducted a survey before the Boko Haram insurgency and found that its population has been depleted by activities of poachers. We used to have a herd of elephants in Sambisa forest, but due to poaching and other habitat destruction, we have lost them.
“When we started having reports of their incursions from a neighbouring Cameroon forest into Borno, through Gamboru/Ngala and Kala-Balge axis, we were excited. Our hope was that they would proceed to Sambisa forest and probably find a more habitable place.
“So far, they have continued to roam around the border areas destroying farmlands but without moving down to Sambisa,” Mr Peter said.
(NAN)