Over 100 Cattle Die Mysteriously While Crossing River Benue.
From Our Correspondent.
More than 100 cattle, reportedly owned by Fulani herdsmen linked to ongoing attacks in Benue State, have allegedly drowned while attempting to cross the River Benue.
The incident occurred on Saturday when many cattle died mysteriously as sand collapsed on them due to erosion, while others drowned while attempting to swim across to Nasarawa State.
A source, Mr. Olikita Ekani, who witnessed the incident while returning from his farm on Saturday, stated, “I saw several dead cows floating in the River Benue opposite Achepe village in Nasarawa State. Additionally, I noticed hundreds of Fulani herdsmen rushing across from the Benue side to Nasarawa.”
“When I spoke to the fishermen assisting in ferrying the herdsmen from the Benue side to Nasarawa side, they informed me that the herdsmen had been rushing and crossing back to Nasarawa for the past week, which indicates impending attacks.”
He added that they have lost more than 100 cattle during their attempt to cross from Benue to Nasarawa.
A fisherman, who wished to remain anonymous, reported that 64 cattle died on Saturday alone. “Most of the dead cattle were killed by heavy soil falling on them as they approached the land, while some drowned while swimming.”
“We have never witnessed such a mysterious death of cattle before. Their entry and crossing points are at: Abugbe to Odenyi in Nasarawa State, Ocholonya to Akpekpo, Achukpa to Ijiwo, and Oleg’Ada’Gomowe to Achepe.”
The spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, DSP Udeme Edet, was unavailable for comment regarding the incident at the time of this report.
