Dr Nwaka, in writing his paper on the ‘man-leopard’ killings of southern Annang, Nigeria, 1943–48, has performed a good public service for Nigeria. During the past few years a number of Nigerians have expressed to me the view that the killings should be written up. Now Dr Nwaka has done just this, and only after a very considerable amount of research, as his extensive references indicate. The fact that I do not accept his main conclusion is not the point. His paper forms the basis for a comprehensive discussion of the circumstances surrounding the killings from 1943 to 1948, and for this we owe him a real debt of gratitude.