Police Arrest Farmer Over Cow Poisoning in Benue
A farmer has been arrested in connection with the poisoning of cows in the Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State, according to local authorities.
The arrest followed an investigation into the recent poisoning of 20 cows, an act that has been strongly condemned by the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria.
The Chairman of MACBAN in Benue State, Risku Muhammed, accused criminal elements in Agatu LGA of poisoning and rustling cattle.
According to him, the incident happened on Saturday in Ucha village, where a farmer, identified as Bawa Oneh, allegedly laced rice chaff with poison and invited a herder to feed it to the cows.
This led to the death of 13 cows, with seven others being treated by a veterinary doctor.
“We received reports from our members that a criminal poisoned rice chaff and invited one of our members to graze his cows on it,” Muhammed explained.
“Sadly, 13 cows died immediately, and seven others are under treatment.”
This incident comes on the heels of another reported cattle rustling episode that occurred the previous Thursday, when 200 cows were stolen.
However, security operatives intervened promptly, arresting one of the rustlers, while others managed to escape.
Muhammed commended the prompt action of the Agatu LGA chairman, Melvin James, who responded quickly to the situation involving the herders and local communities.
He also praised the local government and non-governmental organisations for their continuous support, including compensation for cows killed by criminals in the region.
“The local government chairman, along with NGOs, has been proactive in compensating for cows lost to these criminals,” Muhammed said.
The MACBAN chairman also pointed out that these criminals have been responsible for a series of cattle rustling and killings across several villages, including Olegodege, Utigologwu, Egwuma, Akele, Okwtanobe, and now Ucha.
In response to the incident, the Chairman of Agatu LGA, Melvin James, confirmed that a farmer had been arrested in connection with the poisoning.
He assured that the situation was under investigation and that efforts were underway to address the problem.
“We have received complaints from Miyetti Allah, and an investigation is ongoing,” James stated. “Agatu has been experiencing relative peace due to the peace committee, and we will continue to review the peace process. Unfortunately, some criminal elements are trying to destabilise this peace, but the government is committed to stopping them.”
James also commended the state government for its role in maintaining peace in Agatu and requested more security operatives to be deployed to the area.
The spokesperson for the State Police Command, Catherine Anene, confirmed the arrest of the suspect linked to the poisoning.
“I received a briefing this morning (Sunday) about the poisoning incident, and an investigation is in progress. One suspect has been arrested,” Anene said.
Anene also noted that a peace committee has been working tirelessly in Agatu LGA to ensure that peace continues to prevail in the region, which has faced challenges in the past.