Anxiety as Lion escapes from Imo Zoo .

Palpable fear has enveloped  Owerri, the Imo state capital particularly  Nekede community in Owerri West Council Area of the state,  following the escape of a male Lion  from the Nekede Zoological Gardens, after its gate was allegedly left open by a Staff.

The incident which was repeatedly announced over the radio, threw residents of Owerri  into panic as they hurried home much earlier  abandoning the usual busy drinking  joints apparently to avoid been mauled by the escaped lion.

The radio announcement which was signed by the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Andrew Enwerem , disclosed that a Lion had escaped from the Zoo and warned residents to be careful about their movement until the Lion was recaptured.

However in a bid to contain the stampede, the  Police spokesperson, withdrew the earlier announcement as false, asking the people to go about their businesses without fear.

“We heard about the escape of the Lion and quickly sent a patrol team to the Zoo but on getting there it was discovered that the said Lion did not escape but it was just a false alarm from one of the staff who had been arrested”, Enwerem stated.

When Daily Sun contacted the General Manager of the Zoo, Mr. Francis Abioye, stated that, “it was a false alarm raised by one of the security men at night, no Lion has escaped. It is unfortunate people have been calling me from everywhere, we are deeply sorry for the panic it has caused”.