Hunter Shoots Dead 17-year-old Boy He Allegedly Mistook For An Animal In Cross River Community

A hunter has shot dead a 17-year-old boy identified as Ferdinand Afor, in the forests of Wula in the Boki Local Government Area of central Cross River State.

According to the CrossRiverWatch, the incident happened on Wednesday evening, August 16, 2023, when Afor and his friends pitched a tent with some hunters to gather wild ukazi leaf (gnetum africanum) for sale to raise income in preparation for their New Yam festival.

"They slept with the hunters and while he left to pick ukasi, the hunters went to hunt. And at about 7:00 PM, a hunter shot him and claimed he thought it was an animal,” Ofre John, a native abreast of the matter, told the publication on Saturday, August 19.

The hunter, unnamed, a native of the neighboring Okwango community also in Boki, turned himself over to the Bateriko Division of the Nigerian Police Force where he is currently detained.

Ofre said this has dampened the mood in the community.

He also disclosed that the Okwango community visited the Wula community for discussions on the way forward.

"They are expected to bring three mature goats, one small one and three cocks on Monday, to discuss how to carry out a cleansing,” he added.