Lagwa (Imo State): Community where Villagers live with monkeys
Lagwa Monkeys, which refers to the communities of Lagwa and Umunokwu, is made popular by the monkeys that have lived side by side with the natives for the past 300 years.
It was said that the monkeys in the community acted as informants to the people of the community whenever they were up against external aggression. The monkeys, they said, would climb the highest trees to sight the enemies and quickly report back to the people of the community by way of their loud cries which was in turn understood by them.
The tremendous assistance rendered by the monkeys had warranted the people to see them as god-sent by their forefathers to guide them.
Hence, the people of the community consider the animal sacred and never kill or eat it. They are allowed to roam freely in the compound and homes of the people without being molested. A stiff penalty awaits anybody who kills or hurts the animal. It was also learnt that the death of the animal is treated as that of a human being.
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