The monkeys in Lagwa are considered a unique and scarce breed. They are not found in any other country in the African, European, Asian, or American continent. Lynn R. Baker, a scholar at the MacArthur Interdisciplinary Program on Global Change, Sustainability, and Justice at the University of Minnesota, U.S.A. in her publication titled, ENWE LAGWA: THE MONKEYS OF LAGWA, which captures her study of the Lagwa monkey wrote, "The monkey that lives in Lagwa is called the Sclaters, or the "Nigerian" monkey (the scientific name is Cercopithecus sclateri). This monkey is found only in Nigeria and no other country."

Lagwa monkeys have an interesting behavior that sets them apart from other animals: they bury their dead. Whenever any of the monkeys die, they come together to mourn, dig a hole with their fingers, and bury their dead. A few theories explaining this habit is that they are trying to protect their dead from being eaten by other animals or predators. Another is that they are simply following their instincts. 

Legend has it that these monkeys possess the ability to always find their way to the home of a Lagwa indigen whenever they are outside Lagwa community. Suppose they cross borders to other communities or towns and are exposed to danger or threatened by the villagers; they can locate the home of any Lagwa indigen in that vicinity to seek safety or find their way back to Lagwa.

However, recent developmental activities in the community have continued to threaten the existence of these unique creatures. These monkeys that moved around freely within the village are gradually withdrawing because their natural ecosystem is being tampered with.

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 Victoria Ezechukwu-Nwagwu is the Executive Assistant to the Publisher of FunTimes Magazine. She is a communication enthusiast with a Bachelor's Degree in Mass Communication. She is passionate about learning new things and influencing creative innovations.

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