By Citizenship Daily
Chairman of Miyeiti Alla Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria in Benue State, MACBAN Risku Muhammed has accused criminal elements in Agatu Local Government Area of poisoning 20 cows.
Speaking to our correspondent on phone on Sunday, Mohammed accused the criminals in the area of rustling and poisoning their cows.
He said that the latest incident happened on Saturday at Ucha village where a farmer identified as Bawa Onehi was allegedly poisoned the chaff of rice and later invited a herder to feed his cows resulting into death of 13 cows and seven others been treated by veterinary doctor.
He accused the criminals of rustling 200 cows last Thursday but said that with the prompt intervention of security operatives, one rustler was arrested while others escaped.
Muhammed said, “I got 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 on the rice chaff, unfortunately, 13 cows died instantly while seven are being treated by veterinary doctor.
The MACBAN state chairman commended the council boss, Melvin James for promptly responding to issues concerning the herders and communities in the local government.
“The local government chairman with some non Governmental Organizations working in the LG, have several times paid for cows killed by these criminals,” the MACBAN boss said.
He explained that the criminals had at one time or other, lost several cows to criminals in Olegodege, Utigologwu, Egwuma, Akele, Okwtanobe and now Ucha through rustling and killing.
When contacted, Chairman of Agatu LGA, Melvin James said that the council had received the MACBAN complaints and being investigated, adding that a farmer had been arrested in connection with the poisoning of cows on Saturday.
James stated that with the help of the state government and security operatives deployed to the area, Agatu has enjoyed relative peace.
Said he, “We have received complaints from Miyeitti Allah and investigation is going on about the incident. Agatu has been enjoying peace and this is as a result of the peace committee set up and on daily basis we review the peace process.
“It’s unfortunate that some criminal elements are bent on instigating crisis and disrupt the peace process but government will not fold its arns and allow that to happen.
The chairman who praised the state government for restoring peace in Agatu appealed to government to deploy more security operatives to the council.
Also confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the State Police Command, CSP Catherine Anene said that one suspect had already been arrested.
“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,” Anene said.
The PPRO said that there is a peace committee working tirelessly in Agatu LG to ensure that peace continue to reign in the council.
