KANO, Nigeria — An African rock python has escaped from the private residence of former Accountant General of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Idris, sparking panic in Daneji, a densely populated neighbourhood in Kano Municipal Local Government Area.
The incident, has left residents in fear, with the massive reptile still unaccounted for.
The python is one of several exotic and potentially dangerous animals reportedly kept at Idris’s home.
Residents say they have been living in fear since the news broke.
“Since the python escaped, everyone has been living in fear. All the other animals in the house were evacuated on Tuesday,” Nurulhaq Kabir Muhammad, a Daneji resident, told reporters.
Another resident, Rabi’u Isma’il, described the situation as distressing.
“We can’t sleep peacefully knowing that a giant snake is on the loose and hiding somewhere. Many of us have stopped allowing our children to play outside,” he said.
Aisha Lawal, a mother of three, urged authorities to take immediate action.
“This is not just about the snake – it’s about our safety. We need help before something tragic happens,” she said.
The exact circumstances surrounding the python’s escape remain unclear, and attempts to reach the former AGF or his household for comment have been unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, the Kano State Police Command has launched an investigation into the matter, citing public safety concerns. State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, confirmed that Idris was invited for questioning.
“It is true we have invited the former AGF yesterday with regards to maintaining pets at his home, causing tension and pandemonium among residents,” Bakori said.
He added that Idris had agreed to hand over his exotic animals, including pythons and crocodiles, to the state zoological authorities.
“We have since dispatched an intelligence unit of the command to the State Zoology to ascertain whether the former AGF has truly surrendered the pets to them and to also find out whether anybody sustained injuries or even death from the escaped python,” the police chief said.
In a separate development, the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, issued a stern warning to Idris following complaints from residents of Daneji Quarters.
The monarch, after receiving a delegation from the affected community, cautioned that Idris would be held responsible should anyone suffer harm as a result of the escaped python.
The former AGF, who served under President Muhammadu Buhari, remains under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the alleged misappropriation of over N109 billion.
Though legal proceedings are ongoing, he has largely kept a low profile since leaving office.
With no confirmed sightings of the python since its escape, the community remains on edge, calling for urgent intervention to prevent possible tragedy.
