Residents Flee As Monkeys Invade Community In Lagos

The residents of Soluyi/Sosanya Community in Gbagada, Lagos State, have been left with no other option but to flee from the community as it is being invaded by monkeys from a natural habitat.

The resident disclosed this to newsmen on Monday as they reached out to the state government to come to the community’s rescue stating that the monkeys forced their way into their room, thus destroying windows, doors nets, foodstuffs and other items.

Mr Adigun Olaleye, chairman of the community landlord association, said that it has now become tough to reduce the activities of the monkeys and their destructive attitude in the community, as he explained that the invasion may have resulted from the nearness of the community to a swamp forest separating the community from Ifako area.

Olaleye said the monkeys come into residences at any time even in the early morning and gain entrance into rooms even if the houses are locked. He the community had written to the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture as regards the situation but are yet to get a solace.

“They said we would have to pay for them to come and pack the monkeys,” he said.

Mrs Funmilola Gboteku. a journalist who lives in the community, narrated her misery as she said the monkeys had forced her to flee with her family.

“Many times, these monkeys come to the neighbourhood to destroy our property. Once they see food items inside a house, they direct all their energies at gaining entrance forcefully.

“The monkeys are in the habit of tearing the protective nets on windows to gain entrance and eat whatever they find in the house.

“I have had to replace the protective nets several times; I am tired of doing it. I have been locking my windows but locking of windows has disadvantages; there is no cross ventilation in the house, and as a result, we suffer heat,” she said.

Another resident, Mr Gabriel Omopariwa, said that he was tired of the destructive attitude of the monkeys and had tried to look for ways to stop them, but all his effort has been in vain.

“On several occasions, these monkeys have destroyed our kitchen nets to gain entrance and steal food items.

“Several traps have been set to capture and kill these demonic animals to no avail.

“One of my neighbours, while trying to pour a chemical on a monkey, fell in the bowl of the chemical; she had to be rushed to a hospital.

“She still lives with the scars from the unfortunate incident,” he said.

Residents said the invasion had been for years but recently became unbearable, and appealed to the state government to save the community from the menace.