Mr Jeremiah Onuminya, 54 years, from Usha community in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State, has reportedly slumped and died after a false alarm was raised about an attack by suspected herders.
DAILY POST gathered that Onuminya was on his to his farm on Monday, when some youths raised an alarm “Fulani! Fulani!!”;;.
In an effort to flee for his dear life he collapsed some few meters from his residence and died instantly.
The incident happened a few days after a farmer allegedly poisoned 20 Fulani cattle to death in his and the people are living in fear of retaliation from herdsmen.
The incident was confirmed in a statement on Wednesday on behalf of the Chairman of Agatu Local Government, Mr Igbochi. Melvin James by his Media Aide, Solomon Owoicho.
He expressed condolences to the deceased’s family and said initial investigations, corroborated by security agencies and the family, suggested that Onuminya collapsed from exhaustion while trying to escape, with no evidence of an attack.
“In an effort to determine the exact cause of death, the chairman suggested an autopsy; however, the family declined, accepting that Mr Onuminya’s passing resulted from health complications”.
Ejeh urged residents to avoid spreading unverified information that could incite panic and disrupt the fragile peace in the area.
He warned that false alarms posed serious risks to public safety and efforts toward security and unity in the community.
Recall that the Benue State chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Risku Mohammed, had accused a local farmer of poisoning 20 cows belonging to one of its member
