Residents of Daneji, a densely populated area in Kano Municipal, are sounding the alarm after a python escaped from the private residence of Ahmed Idris, the former Accountant-General of the Federation, who is currently facing trial for the alleged embezzlement of over ₦109 billion in public funds.
The escaped reptile is just one of several wild and potentially dangerous animals being kept at Idris’s compound, including 2 lion cubs, 2 crocodiles, and multiple snakes. Locals, shocked and frightened, say this is not just a matter of personal eccentricity but a threat to community safety and a glaring symbol of elite impunity.
“We’re in fear,” said one resident. “This is not a zoo. We’ve seen lion cubs, snakes, crocodiles — all being kept here. Now a python is on the loose. It’s rainy season, children are playing outside. This is unacceptable.”
The animals are reportedly not hidden. Some neighbors claim visitors are brought in to view them. One resident described transparent containers filled with snakes and lion cubs being fed freshly slaughtered cattle, all in plain sight.
The python, previously kept in a glass enclosure, disappeared under unknown circumstances. As of Friday, it had not been found.
Idris, who served as Nigeria’s Accountant-General from 2015 until his suspension in 2022, was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly orchestrating a massive fraud scheme involving bogus consultancy contracts and real estate deals used to launder stolen funds.
While his trial is ongoing, he appears to remain both wealthy and largely unconstrained, maintaining a private menagerie within a residential area—a move that community members describe as reckless and provocative.
In the years following his appointment as Accountant-General, Idris began aggressively expanding his family compound, purchasing adjacent houses at inflated, eyebrow-raising prices that locals say far exceeded the market rate. He allegedly did the same to expand his supermarket, which is close to the house, but closed down by EFCC when they began investigating him.
So far, no formal intervention from wildlife authorities or safety regulators has been made public. Response has been limited to informal mediation through traditional channels, with the ward head of Daneji confirming to reporters that he had spoken to Mr Idris to move the animals out.
This is not merely a case of an exotic pet gone missing. It is a stark metaphor for the state of Nigerian governance: a man charged with looting billions from the public purse is living freely, keeping predators in a suburban neighborhood, and placing entire communities at risk.
A resident put it bluntly: “It’s like the corruption he’s accused of — it escapes regulation, it spreads fear, and we’re the ones living with the consequences.”
As the rainy season continues and the python remains at large, the residents of Daneji are left wondering: how many more threats must they endure before the state takes responsibility?
The Kano State Government, security agencies, wildlife authorities, and the Kano Emirate Council must investigate and take urgent action to dismantle this dangerous setup before tragedy strikes. Allowing a man facing serious corruption charges to keep wild, deadly animals in a densely populated residential neighborhood is not just reckless — it is a failure of governance. The time to act is now, before this turns into a full-blown disaster.