Residents of Anegbette in Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo State erupted in celebration on Monday after a massive hippopotamus was killed in a local river — an event many described as unprecedented in the community’s history.
The rare spectacle unfolded at the Okumuzo River, a tributary of the Alika River along the road to Uromi, where a local vigilante, Patrick David, brought down the enormous animal. According to eyewitnesses, the beast was “three times bigger than a cow”, drawing dozens of excited youths to the scene.
“It was a day they have never seen in their lives,” said Innocent Oshafi, a resident, describing the atmosphere of awe and jubilation in Anegbette.
Videos from the scene captured the fervent chants of locals in their native dialect as they worked together to pull the giant creature from the shallow waters. The footage shows a communal effort to drag the hippopotamus to the riverbank, followed by scenes of young men butchering the animal amid cheers and celebration.
The sheer size of the animal — dwarfing even the largest cattle — amplified the significance of the vigilante’s accomplishment. Patrick David has since been hailed as a local hero, with residents noting that hippopotamuses, while rare in the area, can be dangerously aggressive and pose threats to both lives and livelihoods, damaging crops and waterways.
For the people of Anegbette, the kill was more than a moment of excitement — it was a symbol of the community’s resilience and ability to confront threats head-on.
The butchering of the animal suggests its meat will be shared among residents, offering a rare and valuable food source in the region.
