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.

The history of the place according to people of the community called Lagwa Okwuato in Aboh Mbaise local government area of Imo sate dates back many decades when it was under serious invasion by their enemies.
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.

People of the community have often reported how the monkeys eat their crops and fruits, but because of the ‘immunity’ on the animal, they are allowed to go scott free.

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