Nigerian Afropop singer, Ugochi Lydia Onuoha, known professionally as Guchi, has had a scary encounter with a tortoise.
In a recent clip, the singer was spotted trying to carry a tortoise from the hands of a lady. Guchi who looked quite excited with the exercise reached out and gently grabbed the tortoise but unexpectedly the animal shook its body which made her scream out in fear and quickly let go of the animal to the dismay of onlookers who had been encouraging her to carry the animal.
See screenshot
KemiFilani recalls that Dr. Edem Eniang, the Director of Biodiversity Preservation Center, BPC, in Akwa Ibom State, expressed concern over the widespread hunt for tortoises in Akwa Ibom State by women for the preparation of love potions, popularly known as ‘Kop nno mi’ for their lovers and other
charms.
According to Vanguard, Dr. Eniang, a University of Uyo, UNIUYO, lecturer, who spoke at a campaign, “Conserve Nigerian Endangered Tortoises, Don’t Hunt Them, Don’t Use Them For Love Potions,” in Mbiakong community, Uruan local government area, said that the survival of the animal is greatly endangered in the state, as it was daily hunted for meals and preparation of love concoctions, popularly
known in the area as Kop nno mi and charms for fortune seekers. The programme was sponsored by Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund, CEPF, and its global partners, Birdlife International and the
Guinea Forest of West Africa, GFWA.
The BPC director stated that “the rate at which the animal is hunted for fetish reasons is worrisome and may likely force the animal to go into extinction,” calling on the people, especially hunters, to
stop hunting the creature.