Sunday, March 30, 2025 -The Benue State chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria has raised the alarm over the poisoning of their cows, allegedly carried out by criminal elements in Agatu Local Government Area.
Chairman of MACBAN in the state, Risku Muhammed, accused
perpetrators in the area of deliberately targeting their livestock, leading to
the recent deaths of 20 cows.
Speaking to Punch on Sunday, March 30, Muhammed
detailed the latest incident, which occurred on Saturday at Ucha village, where
a farmer identified as Bawa Oneh allegedly laced rice chaff with poison and
invited a herder to graze his cows on it.
“I got a report from my members in Agatu LGA that a criminal
who had laced rice chaff with poison invited one of our members to come and
graze his cows. Unfortunately, 13 cows died instantly while seven are being
treated by a veterinary doctor,” Muhammed lamented.
He further accused the criminals of rustling 200 cows just
days earlier, adding that security operatives were able to intervene in time,
leading to the arrest of one suspect while others escaped
The MACBAN chairman expressed concern over the continued
targeting of herders in Agatu, listing several communities—including Olegodege,
Utigologwu, Egwuma, Akele, and Okwtanobe—as places where similar incidents have
occurred.
He, however, commended Agatu LGA Chairman, Melvin James, for
his prompt response to the crisis.
“The local government chairman, along with some
Non-Governmental Organizations working in the area, has several times paid for
cows killed by these criminals,” Muhammed stated
Confirming the
incident, Agatu LGA Chairman, Melvin James, said that the council had received
MACBAN’s complaints and had already begun investigations
“We have received complaints from
Miyetti Allah, and an investigation is ongoing. Agatu has been enjoying peace,
and this is due to the peace committee set up. On a daily basis, we review the
peace process,” James said.
While acknowledging the progress made in
maintaining peace, he warned that some criminal elements were still trying to
instigate violence.
“It’s unfortunate that some criminal
elements are bent on instigating crisis and destroying the peace process, but
the government will not fold its arms and allow that to happen,” he added.
James called on the state government to
deploy more security operatives to Agatu to further strengthen the existing
peace efforts.
The spokesperson of the Benue State
Police Command, CSP Catherine Anene, also confirmed the incident, stating that
an arrest had been made in connection with the poisoning.
“I have a briefing this morning (Sunday) about dead cows said to have been poisoned. Investigation is going on, and a suspect has been arrested,” she said.
The PPRO further emphasised that a peace
committee was actively working to sustain calm in Agatu, a region previously
troubled by frequent clashes between herders and farmers.
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