A Report from Drill Ranch
February 29th, 2020 by adminAs you may have heard, Drill Ranch experienced a terrible series of events since the end of 2019. If you saw the article from the Nigerian Guardian newspaper that was widely circulated online, it was not totally accurate. Here’s what happened:
Kyrian Tah
In the wee hours of December 29th, our Afi camp office was robbed; equipment totaling $6,000, including 2 MacBook Pro computers, was taken and about $2,000 in local currency – the cash arrived the night before to pay staff year-end bonuses. Naturally, we believe this was an “inside job”. Our local police were informed and proceeded to investigate; they visited camp and took statements. Two staff – our driver and senior security man – were held for questioning. On January 8th the police requested our remaining 3 security staff to visit the local station to give statements. That afternoon, unknown to us, the police decided to transfer these 3 staff plus the 2 in custody. The police vehicle had an accident. One staff, Kyrian Tah of Buanchor, was killed. The rest were hospitalized as were 6 police officers. Our driver Peter Eyo of Oron died later of his injuries.
The next day January 9th, news of the accident reached camp by radio from Calabar; there were no details on who was killed. As we struggled to grapple with the tragedy, the news reached Buanchor. Dozens of village youth stormed our camp. As they poured in on motorcycles armed with clubs and machetes, the staff told me to run and hide but I did not. I went to face them. I did not believe they’d hurt us. I was wrong. They ransacked the camp, smashing our vehicles, generators, equipment, tools, structures – everything they saw. They manhandled me and project manager Zack Schwenneker onto motorcycles and whisked us to the village. The youths bloodied a Dutch tourist (he escaped, thankfully).
In Buanchor it was chaos and mayhem. Hundreds of people were shouting, pushing, pulling and struggling to chain us. Zack was pulled into the street, savagely beaten and dragged away. The community leadership were powerless. After a few hours Zack and I were rescued by friendly factions, reunited, and returned to camp.
Peter Eyo “Obong”
We found camp heavily damaged and looted: they had rained havoc on vehicles, kitchen, main lodge, tool shed, fuel stores, radios, cameras, phones, binoculars, etc. all damaged, destroyed or stolen. The office was looted, including $1,700 in local currency. The animals and enclosures were untouched, and keepers all stayed vigilant. Ikom Police Command sent 4 armed officers that night who helped secure the camp for the next month, for which we were incredibly grateful. All staff, including those from Buanchor, have worked 24 hours a day since the attack – caring for the animals by day and security patrolling by night. We’re very proud of all the staff: they’ve been fantastic – working together to feed the 600+ animals, and repair infrastructure, as possible. Jennifer’s preparing 2 meals daily for 25 people plus keeping up with laundry and other chores. Without our Land Rovers or a driver willing to go to into the village we struggled the first week to get enough animal food. Fortunately, 2 men with vehicles from Buanchor stepped in to carry animal food at reasonable rates and we are managing.
The situation as of today with the village remains tense. Our police detail has vanished, although we were promised they would be restored. Kyrian’s and Peter Eyo’s bodies remain in the mortuary, and their families are demanding huge sums of money as compensation. Peter Eyo leaves 3 fatherless children in a nearby village. Yes, the police are liable for these costs but have not taken responsibility. The project’s expenditures in January doubled with medical costs for staff, replacing and repairing infrastructure, feeding staff and police twice daily, and overtime wages. We are facing at least $10,000 to replace stolen or destroyed equipment. Fortunately, dedicated funds from Rettet den Drill and Hannover Zoo are set aside for vehicle repair and replacement and Peter is working on this in Calabar.
Drill Ranch is more at risk today that at any time since its founding in 1991.
We don’t know if Drill Ranch is sustainable at this location. Buanchor is unlikely to improve. It’s rife with gangs and the leadership, however well-meaning they may be, cannot control the youth. Despite being amongst the largest private employers in the Boki tribal area, spending up to $1,000 cash every week buying animal food from villagers, Drill Ranch was not protected from rampaging youths. We are struggling to see our future here – a place Peter and I, with the help of the Cross River State government, federal government and many others, committed 30 years to establishing.
Moving Drill Ranch to another location is an option but the logistics are daunting. Yet, if we stay here, do we remain at risk? Are visitors likely to come again? Can we continue to invite international volunteers, which the project relies on for technical supervision? The reputation of Buanchor is permanently tarnished, and the perception of insecurity cannot be easily erased.
As we ponder these long-term issues, rest assured that the animals are fine. Zack is in charge in camp with the help of CJ, Kerrie Grant, Pieter van Heeren and the staff. Lulu the dog is keeping morale up. We’ll never forget Kyrian and Peter Eyo, the kindest and most cheerful members of Drill Ranch staff.
Please contact us if you have any questions or ideas for the future. We appreciate all your support and encouragement over these many years.
Liza Gadsby
PS Here is how you can make a donation.
March 27th, 202010:27 pm at
Hi Liza,
I’m a friend of Kerrie Grant. I was really shocked and sad to hear of what happened at the ranch. I’m not sure how much one actually ‘recovers’ from an incident like that, but I hope you are managing to move forward and regain some sense of peace and balance.
I’ve just been talking to Kerrie’s brother, Rob. We are both rather concerned as we’ve heard nothing from Kerrie since about a week after she arrived at the ranch. Rob has been asking around her other friends and no one seems to have heard from her.
Is everything ok at the ranch, and, more importantly, is Kerrie ok?
We would be very relieved and grateful to hear from you.
Kind regards,
Wendy
March 28th, 202012:58 am at
Hi Wendy,
Good to hear from you. Kerrie is fine. She is up at Afi so no internet, no phone – why you haven’t heard from her. There have been no more problems with the community. Kerrie is focussed on the animals, animal food buying (a massive job), and cleaning (more important now than ever), and organizing the feeds served to the animals. Plus lots of other stuff up there, of course.
All this stuff happened before she got there. Her arrival meant I could leave – my plan was a quick trip to the the states to buy equipment we needed to replace. Now I’m stuck here as Nigeria stopped all international flights.
Peter and Zack are in Calabar at the moment and are in daily radio contact with Kerrie and others up at Afi.
Email me so we can be in contact and I can give you emails for those in Calabar who can get messages to Kerrie.
Thanks for reaching out!
Liza
April 12th, 20205:47 pm at
Dear Liza,
We are beyond heartbroken to belatedly learn about this terrible incident, the loss of life (we were fortunate to experience what a kindred spirit Peter Eyo was during our stint in 2011, RIP), your trauma and the aftermath. We cannot begin to fathom what a difficult situation this is. We were just thinking about you and everyone in Afi and wondering how you were coping with the Covid-19 pandemic, and now, this! So sorry to read this news. Please stay strong and you will make the best decision for everyone involved.
Warmest best wishes from afar,
Ana and Jon from Romania
June 26th, 20205:18 am at
Hi Liza,
This is Dan Grec – I’m the Australian overlander in a Jeep who camped at Afi in 2017 with my German friends Dani and Didi in the big Ford van. We met you in the supermarket in Calabar and came out to your place there for an evening.
I’m so sad and sorry to hear about the developments at Drill Ranch. I’ve told literally hundreds of people about your project, about the amazing place you’ve built and all your hard work. I’m lost for words to learn what has happened, and to see the community turn against you like that.
Wishing you and Peter and everyone at Afi all the best,
-Dan Grec
July 23rd, 20203:22 am at
Hello Peter and Liza.
I just learned from Justine and Robert about the horrendous attack on your Afi Mountain project late last year. There are no words to adequately respond to this terrible news of death, destruction, and despair. I am thankful that more people were not killed and grateful to know that staff have worked miracles to keep everything going. I hope that Liza and others who were beaten have recovered.
I know that, as difficult as it will be, you will make the best decision for the project.
With best wishes,
Barbara
September 27th, 20204:42 am at
Dear Liza…we met years ago at LA Zoo, where I do research. I’m just sickened and horrified to hear of your awful ordeal and hope you’re better now. I’ve sent a pitifully small donation….the covid shutdown has made a mess of my financial life. BUT…I will share your story on FaceBook and hope it’ll help. I’m so sorry!
November 30th, 20202:02 am at
Dear Pam,
Thanks so much for your kind words and condolences. I’ve been stuck in the states since then, Drill Ranch is hanging on – the worst damage was to the heart and soul of our brand new, young and enthusiastic project manager Zack. It’s hard to tell from a distance how he’s really holding up. The drills are fine, as ever. I’m hoping to get back before the end of the year. Thank you so much for contributing – no donation is “pitiful”. It’s all much appreciated and needed! Liza.
November 30th, 20202:09 am at
Hi Barbara!
So glad to hear a welcome voice from the good old days. I just don’t check the website much (which I supposed is obvious!). I came back to the states late Feb and have been stuck here ever since. Situation with the community remains difficult and I don’t think that relationship can ever be restored. Things are so different in Nigeria these days, and not for the better. Traditional community rule is all but gone and youths rampage. I managed to get Peter out of Nigeria in July on an evacuation flight as he’d been unwell for some months. We’re both reasonably okay now (just getting OLD!) and need to think about getting back there soon. My email is [email protected]. So glad to have your email address as it was lost with my computer – one of the ones stolen. Cheers for now – and thank you for thinking of us. Liza
November 30th, 20202:14 am at
Hi Dan,
I don’t check the website much (I know I should!) and it’s nice to hear from you. Your kind words are much appreciated. We’re hanging on, the animals are fine, I doubt the relationship with the community will ever be restored. Nigeria is changing and not for the better.
Please do stay in touch! My email is [email protected]
cheers for now. Liza
November 30th, 20202:21 am at
Dear Ana and Jon,
So sorry not to reply sooner! I don’t check the website very often (I know I should!). You two have been so wonderful about staying in touch with us, supporting Drill Ranch in many ways, and remaining friends of the project. I came back to the US after what happened to replace equipment, etc., and then got stuck here. Trying to get back before the end of the year. Peter is here with me now. The animals are fine and we are just carrying on – there really is no choice. When COVID came it made everything more difficult as, of course, the animals can get it also! We tried locking down the staff in camp and at Calabar but we couldn’t sustain that for very long. For now, everything is calm.
Thank your for staying in touch and keeping Drill Ranch in your hearts!
Liza
[email protected]