Straw-colored fruit bats (Eidolon helvum) are ecologically vital in West Africa but serve as reservoirs for zoonotic viruses such as coronaviruses, henipaviruses, and paramyxoviruses. In Ogbomosho, Nigeria, one of the region’s largest E. helvum colonies roosts within the Nigeria Baptist Theological Seminary (NBTS), an academic institution that functions as a residential community for students, staff, families, and local dwellers. The seminary’s open campus, proximity to bat roosting trees, and daily interactions between residents and wildlife create a unique human–bat interface. Hunters from the surrounding area also routinely enter the premises to harvest bats, increasing direct contact and potential spillover pathways.
This study applied a mixed-method approach to assess community vulnerability to bat-borne virus transmission. A total of 160 residents were surveyed using structured questionnaires to evaluate awareness, risk interpretation, and bat-related behaviours. Participants were selected using simple random sampling from residential lists provided by NBTS, while hunters were included through convenience sampling due to their limited number and mobility. Four weeks of direct observations documented hunting patterns, handling practices, and spatial overlap between human activity and bat roosts.
Results showed moderate bat awareness among residents but varying interpretations of disease risk. Observational findings revealed frequent hunting near residential zones, including the capture of adult and pregnant females, indicating unsustainable pressure on bat populations and consistent human–bat contact points. A positive association between awareness and perceived vulnerability (r = 0.42, p < 0.01) suggests that increased knowledge may promote safer behaviours.
These findings highlight a critical One Health concern, demonstrating how ecological, behavioural, and environmental factors converge to heighten zoonotic risk in semi-urban communities. Strengthening education, regulating wildlife harvesting, and improving habitat management are essential for reducing disease emergence while conserving bat populations in Nigeria.
