Thieves Not Gorilla Stole N6.90m From Kano Zoo – MD

The mystery around the missing N6.82 million reportedly swallowed by a Gorilla in Kano Zoo has been unveiled with the management of Kano Zoological Garden recanting an earlier statement on the bizarre incident.

The story made the rounds that the said amount, being proceeds of gate fees collected from visitors during the Salah holiday, was swallowed by a merry-making gorilla.

But in a sudden change of the story line, Managing Director of the Zoological Garden, Mallam Umar Yusif Umar, said they have no Gorilla and the money was taken from its coffers by armed robbers.

“I was called midnight on Sunday, June 9, by the head of security that armed robbers burgled our office, including the revenue office,” Umar explained to journalists.”

He said at “About 6.30 a.m., I left my home for the office and immediately I arrived I met my office and that of all the directors opened.

“Instantly I called the DPO, Sharada police station and reported the case to him. As far as I’m concerned, I suspect theft and nothing close to Gorilla.”

According to him, the amount involved in the incident was N6.90 million and not N6.82 million widely reported.

Reacting to the incident, spokesperson of the Kano State Police Command, DSP Abdullahi Haruna, said 10 staff of the Zoo, including the accounting officer, Lawan Dandadarin, have so far been arrested and are currently in Police custody for interrogation.

The officer told journalists that from the statement by persons arrested so far, there is no connection or mention made about the so-called money-swallowing gorilla.

“So far, information collected from the suspects suggests armed robbery case and that of negligence,” Haruna stated.

BBC Pidgin broke the news on Friday, June 14 that a Kano-based radio station, Freedom Radio,  alleged a finance officer dropped the hints that; “a huge Gorilla” sneaked into their office to ‘swallow’ the money.

However, disclaiming the story, Head of current affairs, Freedom Radio Nasiru Salisu said the gorilla story did not emanate from the station.

“We challenge anybody who claimed we break the gorilla news to come out and prove it.

“We never reported any such story. Like every other person, we noticed the information on social media and a reporter was drafted to investigate the matter,” Salisu said – NAN