Image copyright Ogba Zoo & Park Image caption The Ogba Zoo was described as one of Nigeria's top tourist destinations

Three policemen have been killed by gunmen who attacked a zoo in Nigeria's mid-western Edo State, the police have told the BBC.

The gunmen also abducted the head of the zoo, after they stormed the 750-acre Ogba Zoo and Nature Park.

The information minister has condemned the attack, describing it as a big blow to efforts to promote tourism.

According to a police spokesman, Sunday's incident occurred in the presence of more than 200 visitors.

There is no information on who the gunmen and abductors are, or whether they have made any demands.

Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed described the zoo as one of Nigeria's top tourist destinations.

He called on the abductors of zoo director Andy Ehanire to quickly release him unharmed.

Mr Mohammed said that security at all tourist sites across the country would be stepped up.</s>The Federal Government has condemned the attack on the Ogba Zoo and Nature Park in Benin, the Edo State capital.

Gunmen had stormed the zoo on Sunday evening, killing three policemen, abducting the Head of the Zoo, Andy Ehanire, and leaving many shocked over the attack.

”The killing of the three policemen attached to the zoo to provide security for fun seekers, the abduction of the zoo boss and the trauma suffered by the visitors who witnessed the attack are saddening, condemnable and most unfortunate,” the Minister of Culture, Lai Mohammed, was said.

The Minister added that the attack dealt a blow to the country’s tourism sector.

”The success or failure of a tourism destination depends largely on a safe and secure environment,” he was quoted as saying in a statement by his Special Adviser, Mr Segun Adeyemi.

“Incidences such as the attack on the Ogba Zoo and Nature Park, therefore, negate the concept of tourism as well as government’s determination to develop our tourism industry as a tool for socio-economic development.”

In view of that attack, the Federal Government plans to “step up security in all the tourist sites across the country in particular in order to prevent a recurrence”.

Mr Mohammed called on the abductors of the Zoo head to release him unharmed.

He also sent his condolences to the families of the policemen who were killed in the attack, and prayed that God will grant repose to their

 souls.</s>Three policemen posted to provide security for fun seekers at the Ogba Zoo and Nature Park in Oredo local government area of Edo State have been killed by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers.

The three policemen were killed at about 6pm while their arms and ammunition were collected by the attackers.

Director and Chief Executive of the Ogba Zoo and Nature Park, Dr. Andy Ehanire, was abducted by the gunmen.

It was gathered that the killing disrupted activities at the zoo as many fun seekers scampered for safety.

Edo State police spokesman, DSP Moses Nkombe, who confirmed the killings and abduction on the phone said the situation has been brought under control.

DSP Nkombe said the attackers would soon be arrested as security has been beefed up in the area.

He assured members of the public that the zoo is safe for fun seekers.</s>The Federal Government has condemned the attack on the Ogba Zoo and Nature Park in Benin, Edo State, on Sunday, during which three policemen were killed and the Head of the Zoo, Dr. Andy Ehanire, was abducted by the attackers.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who made the government’s position known in a statement on Monday, described the attack on one of the country’s foremost tourist destinations as a big blow to ongoing efforts to lift the tourism sector in the country.

He said, ‘’The success or failure of a tourism destination depends largely on a safe and secure environment. Incidents such as the attack on the Ogba Zoo and Nature Park therefore negate the concept of tourism as well as government’s determination to develop our tourism industry as a tool for socio-economic development.

‘’The killing of the three policemen attached to the zoo to provide security for fun seekers, the abduction of the zoo boss and the trauma suffered by the visitors who witnessed the attack are saddening, condemnable and most unfortunate.’’

Mohammed said the government would step up security in the entire tourist sites in the country in order to prevent a recurrence, while urging the abductors of Ehanire to quickly release him unharmed.

He also sent his condolences to the families of the deceased.

Copyright PUNCH. 

 All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.</s>The Federal Government has condemned the attack on Ogba Zoo and Nature Park in Benin, Edo State, on Sunday, during which three policemen were killed and the Head of the Zoo, Dr. Andy Ehanire, was abducted by the attackers.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who made the government’s position known in a statement issued on Monday, described the attack on one of the country’s foremost tourist destinations as a big blow to ongoing efforts to lift the tourism sector in the country.

He said, ”The success or failure of a tourism destination depends largely on a safe and secure environment. Incidences such as the attack on the Ogba Zoo and Nature Park therefore negate the concept of tourism as well as government’s determination to develop our tourism industry as a tool for socio-economic development.

”The killing of the three policemen attached to the zoo to provide security for fun seekers, the abduction of the zoo boss and the trauma suffered by the visitors who witnessed the attack are saddening, condemnable and most unfortunate.”

Mohammed said the government will step up security in the entire tourist sites in the country in order to prevent a recurrence, while urging the abductors of Ehanire to quickly release him unharmed.

He also sent his condolences to the families of the policemen who were killed in the attack, and prayed that God will grant repose to their souls.</s>A staff of the Ogba Zoological Garden and Natural Park in Benin, Helen Juchei, has narrated how three policemen were shot dead by yet to be identified gunmen, after buying them beer.

Recall that the gunmen also abducted the Director of the Zoo, Andy Ehanire, the younger brother to the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, and a former Senator and wife of a retired army General, Daisy Danjuma.

Speaking to The News, Juchei who was on duty on the fateful Sunday, said funseekers who witnessed the incident, confirmed that the assailants bought three bottles of Heineken beer for their victims before shooting them, after the policemen carelessly laid their gun on the ground to drink their beer.

“Yesterday after I finished my normal duty in the morning, people were just entering the Zoo. And at this time, my boss has not come. We usually come before our boss and when he eventually came at about 1 pm, it was now my turn to take over my duty, I went to tell him that I was having a birthday party to attend and that was how he granted me the permission and I left for the birthday hoping to come back to assume duty later in the day. “When I eventually came back at about 6 pm, I met three policemen lying dead on the ground. I was very shocked and what I saw after was people running for safety and the boss taken away. It was those whom we met at the scene that told us what happened “They said the kidnappers paid to enter the Zoo with a torn money which was rejected by the casher at the gate. When the money was rejected, he went back to get a better money to pay the entrance fee. “At this time, their informant have already gained entrance into the Zoo as fun seeker. When the informants had finally studied the terrain, one of the informants decided to engage our director in conversation.

“Our boss started telling him his plans to put up a world tourism day. As one of them engaged my boss in a conversation, the other one went straight to the security personnel and asked him if they have not closed for the day and decided to order for drinks for the officers providing security for the Zoo. “This was what those who were there told us. So they bought them Heineken and as they laid down their guns to drink, that was when the hoodlums opened fire on them and killed the three police officers. We have not heard any information about the whereabouts of our boss,” she narrated.

Another staff of the Zoo, Mr. Zontondji Emmanuel, narrated how the hoodlums shot the police officers.

“I was on duty, I resumed by 5:30 pm and as I came in, I went round to inspect the animals and the visitors on ground. And after having done that, I came back to the reception where the Executive Director was sitting down and there was another one sitting at this end. There were two policemen sitting by him. So I went outside to observe the outside. “At the outside, I saw an Audi 80 Car parked and suddenly, I saw three men coming out with guns and one of them wearing a bullet proof vest and I thought that they were normal police who usually come here for normal security reasons. “Suddenly, I saw them running into the zoo premises which is very unusual and when they entered, they started shooting immediately. So, all of us outside started running for our dear lives. I was calling on people running to give us police numbers, nobody was ready to stop because they were all afraid. “But at the time I watched from afar and I saw that the men were going out with my Director. They went into the Audi Car and zoomed away. I now came into the Zoo premises and I saw the three policemen who were supposed to be guarding the director were lying dead on the ground. After that, the DPO now came to take the dead bodies away,” Emmanuel said. Meanwhile, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Haliru Gwandu promised that efforts are being made to fish out the hoodlums. Briefing newsmen during an on-the-spot assessment visits to the Zoo, Gwandu said the killers of the three police officers as militants. “It was an unfortunate incidence. We lost three of our personnel. This is the activities of the militants because of the high sea now. They came and unfortunately killed our policemen, but we are on the trail of the hoodlums. We are able to recover the vehicles they used to perpetrate the act. We are using all the available means including the high tech to fish out the perpetrators. “They cannot go scot free. Let me assure the general public in Edo State that we are on top of the situation and that they should go about their normal duty. All hands are on deck to ensure that the hoodlums are fished out,” he said.</s>SALT LAKE CITY – Utah’s Hogle Zoo announced Steve Burns as the new President/CEO, replacing Craig Dinsmore who is retiring after 20 years.

Burns is moving from his current post as the Executive Director of Zoo Boise in Idaho.

“I’ve been watching Hogle Zoo for 20 years,” Burns said after the Zoo’s Board of Directors made the announcement. “I’ve known Craig, I’ve visited the Zoo and I’ve been impressed. It’s a beautiful Zoo and there’s amazing support from the community.”</s>The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has assured the people of Edo and Nigerians that his administration is on top of the security situation in the state.

Obaseki gave the assurance after an emergency meeting with security agencies in the state at the Government House in Benin city.

The Governor condemned the gruesome killings of three police officers and the abduction of the Chief Executive of Ogba Zoological Garden and Nature Park, Mr. Andy Osa Enahire, on Sunday in Benin City.

He said, “Our hearts are with the families of the slain police officers and we promise to deploy all the resources at our disposal to ensure Mr Ehanire returns to his family in the shortest time possible, and unhurt.”

“When the Edo State Government received intelligence report on the kidnap of Mr. Osa Ehanire, we immediately contacted the relevant security agencies to do all within their powers to secure his release,” he added.

Obaseki also explained that Ehanire, who is a well-known tourism practitioner in Nigeria, was scheduled to play a major role in the planned hosting of the 2017 edition of the World Tourism Day celebrations scheduled for Wednesday September 27, 2017 by the state government.</s>One of the Ogba Zoo staff has revealed that the gunmen that killed three police officers and abducted the Executive Director of the zoo, Dr. Andy Ehanire, in the Edo State capital on Sunday, tricked the murdered policemen with beer.

The staff told Vanguard that the assailants came as fun seekers.

The Ogba Zoo and Nature Park was attacked on Sunday by unknown gunmen leaving three police officers dead.

According to the staff, “after I finished my morning duties, people began to enter the zoo. At this time, my boss had not come.

“When he came at about 1p.m., I went to tell him that I had a birthday party to attend and he gave me permission to go.

“I left for the birthday, hoping to come back to resume duty later in the day.

“When I eventually came back at about 6p.m., I met three policemen lying dead on the ground. I was shocked. I saw people running for safety and the boss being taken away. It was those we met at the scene that told us what happened.

“They said one of the kidnappers paid to enter the zoo with worn out money, which was rejected by the cashier at the gate. When the money was rejected, he went back to get a better money to pay.

“At this time, their informants had already gained entrance into the zoo as fun seekers. When the informants finally studied the terrain, one of them decided to engage our director in conversation.

“Our boss started telling him his plans to put up a world tourism day. As one of them engaged my boss in a conversation, the other one went straight to the security personnel and asked them if they had not closed for the day. They decided to order for drinks for the officers.

“So, they bought the officers beer and as they dropped their guns to drink, the hoodlums opened fire on them, killing them instantly.

“We have not heard any information about the whereabouts of our boss.”</s>Every year more than a half million visitors stroll through the exhibits at the Honolulu Zoo.

Every year more than a half million visitors stroll through the exhibits at the Honolulu Zoo.

Voters to decide if portion of property tax should fund Honolulu Zoo

Voters to decide if portion of property tax should fund Honolulu Zoo

For the sixth time since 2009, the Honolulu Zoo is looking for a new director.

For the sixth time since 2009, the Honolulu Zoo is looking for a new director.

A new director of the Honolulu Zoo was named on Monday amid leadership turnover over the past few years.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell has announced Linda Santos as the new director, the first female director in the zoo’s history.

"The process was a very thorough, robust process that looked across the country," Caldwell said during a press conference. "They found the best-suited person right here, working at the zoo, working 30 years and counting."

Santos, who has more than 30 years of experience in animal care and welfare, served as assistant zoo director after former Director Baird Fleming resigned in December 2016.

"Being here for 30 years should say I'm rooted, committed, and hopefully my staff will be as well," Santos said.

David Earles, executive director of the Honolulu Zoo Society, also issued this statement: "The Zoo Society has been privileged to work with Linda for many years. We are excited about the future of our zoo under her leadership and look forward to great things to come."

In the past, the zoo has struggled with a high turnover in leadership, going through five directors in six years. The zoo has also dealt with accreditation and funding issues.

"I hope the troubles of the past are truly behind us, and we look forward to a very bright future here at the zoo," Caldwell said.

The annual salary for the zoo director is about $164,000.

This story will be updated.
Gunmen attack the Ogba Zoo in Benin City, Nigeria, killing three police officers and abduct the zoo's director. There is no information on who the gunmen and abductors are, or whether they have made any demands.