Maiduguri, Nigeria - Rampaging elephants have ravaged vast stretches of farmlands and sacked 44 villages in north Nigeria, government officials and witnesses said on Thursday.
Witnesses said the elephants strayed from a nearby games reserve over the weekend and attacked villages in Gwoza, Chibok, Damboa, Biu, Kwaya-Kusar and Bayo local government areas.
"This is the worst elephant invasion of our area within the last 35 years," a villager said, adding: "The elephants destroyed farmlands, cash crops and economic trees."
Agriculture Commissioner Ibrahim Bulama said the government planned to build a fence around the Yankari games reserves to demarcate the villages from the grazing routes and yearly movements of the elephants.
The north-eastern Borno State government has warned other villagers in the six local government areas affected by the invasion to relocate pending government action to prevent the animals advancing. - Reuters