From: Rose Ejembi, Makurdi.

At least 57 cows have been killed with 65 still missing after yet-to-be-identified assailants stormed a cattle ranch located in a forest at Igblagidi in Ugboju-Icho Ward of Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.

The incident, which occurred last week, was  estimated at N10 million.

According to the leader of Fulani in Otukpo Local Government Area, Ardo Risku Mohammed, the assailants had invaded the ranch at about 9:00pm on Sunday and started shooting at the cows adding that the four young men that were guarding the ranch were only lucky to have escaped unhurt.

Although, Ardo Mohammed could not say who perpetrated the act, Daily Sun reliably gathered that the mayhem might not be unconnected with the killing of a woman in Ohimini allegedly by suspected Fulani herdsmen two weeks ago.

“I cannot say whether it is Agatu people or not that perpetrated the act.

I was born in Idoma land and have lived peacefully in Igblagidi, Ipolo and Iglabama communities without any hitch but appealed to the leaders of Idoma nation to please abide by the peace agreement initiated by the government.”

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But a National Coordinator of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Garus Gololo who posited that the killing of the cattle had nothing to do with the death of a woman in Ohimini insisted the act was carried out by Agatu youths.

“It is violation of the peace agreement initiated by Governor Samuel Ortom and his Nasarawa State counterpart, Tanko Almakura. Agatu youths are responsible for the attack. It was not a reprisal for the killing of a woman in Ohimini. But Fulani still stands by the peace pact signed by both Fulani and Agatu people. We are for peace and we will continue to toe the line of peace.”

Reacting, Sole Administrator of Otukpo Local Government Area, Hon. George Ali who regretted the development said he had already set machinery in motion to fish out the perpetrators of the act.

“These Fulani herdsmen have been living with the people without any problem. I already set up a committee to look into the matter. The Idoma nation and the state government is against killing of cows. We will surely get to the root of the matter within few days. The Obande K’Ugboju has already mobilised the youths to join forces with the Fulanis to go after the missing cows.”

But in a swift reaction, Sole Administrator of Agatu Local Government area, Hon. Mike Inalegwu, dispelled insinuations that his people were responsible for the killing of the cows stressing that Agatu people are peace loving and could not have crossed so many security checkpoints to perpetrate such mayhem in another community.

 

Commenting on the matter, Commissioner of Police in charge of Benue State, Bashir Makama, described the killing of 57 cattle as unprovoked criminality assuring that whoever is fingered in the act would be apprehended.