FEAR GRIPS THE PEOPLE OF PLATEAU STATE AS LION ESCAPES FROM JOS ZOO SINCE 1972 WHILE FEEDING

PANIC has spread across the Plateau State capital Jos after a lion escaped from the city's zoo while it was being fed this morning and ventured into the bustling metropolis. In the first such case of its kind, the lion escaped from the Jos Wild Life Park at around 8am this morning, slipping through the gate of the cage when it was opened for its routine feeding. John Doy, the acting general manager of the Plateau Tourism Corporation, said that the lion, had been caged since 1972 and this was the first such time it has escaped. He added that the animal is still within the vicinity of the park but the authorities' fear is that the facility is not fenced and it may venture into Jos city. Mr Doy said that he had already informed all security agencies to come to the park’s assistance by recapturing the animal. Naomi Cishak, the public relations officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps confirmed news of the escape but said that the agency had not been officially informed. It is not yet clear which agency will be charged with capturing the lion or if there are plans to kill it.