Some residents of the
Atekong Drive axis of Marian area in Calabar Municipality have launched a serious protest demanding the dismantling of the monkey breeding ranch which is situated within the metropolis.
This protest was consequent upon a public outcry that monkeys were major careers of the dreaded Ebola disease.
Speaking to newsmen in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, the concerned residents described the presence of the Drill Ranch close to their residential building as very dangerous and unsafe to their mutual existence.
One of the aggrieved residents, Mr. Effiong Okon, said since the news of Ebola virus broke out, the residents had been living in perpetual fear.
“These animals are not supposed to be living in the midst of human beings, especially when monkeys are known to be one of the vertebrate animals that transmit the Ebola virus disease.
“I appeal to the authorities to consider the health challenges posed by this ranch and relocate it to another place,” Mr. Okon said.
Another resident, Miss Rose Akpan, in an awful tone, expressed fear over the ranch cited close to where she lives stressing that, this was a very dangerous development particularly to their health.
“We live in fear now, because nobody knows what to do with the presence of these animals here,” she said.
Miss Akpan however called on the authorities of the Cross River State Ministry of Health to cause the owner of the ranch to relocate it as soon as possible to save lives.
“This should be a challenge to the state government in view of the present Ebola challenge,” she lamented.
Reacting to the situation, the Director of Epidemiology in the state Ministry of Health, Dr. Sunny Omini said they were aware of the presence of the ranch.
In his words, “we are aware of the presence of the ranch but it is not in wild area; it is in the inclusive area, so the monkeys there are not as harmful as those in the wild areas.
“However we are monitoring the situation. We have not received any report from our Disease Surveillance Notification Officers (DSNOs) on any possible outbreak of Ebola in Cross River as a result of that”, the director said.
Rivers State Commissioner for Youth Development, Sir Owene Wonodi (2nd left), inspecting a guard of honour mounted by a youth group, during the 2014 Youth Day celebration in Port Harcourt last Tuesday.
