Thirty six cows were reportedly killed while 42 others were left critically ill after suspected poisoning in the Tafi Gana junction area of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State on Wednesday.
The Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Bassa LGA, Ya’u Idris, confirmed the incident, which he said occurred around 4:30 p.m. while the animals were grazing. According to him, the cattle consumed garden eggs laced with poison, which had been deliberately scattered across the area.
“We had about 78 cattle grazing in the area. Currently, 36 have been killed, and the remaining 42 are in critical condition. It’s uncertain what will happen to them due to the poisoned garden eggs,”; Idris told reporters.
He added that the incident had been reported to various security agencies, including the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the police. Idris confirmed that the GOC had visited the scene and assured them of an investigation into the incident.
“He urged us not to take the law into our hands and promised that those responsible would be brought to book,”; Idris added, calling on Fulani residents to remain calm amid the rising tensions.
The cattle poisoning occurred just two days after a deadly attack in Zikke village, also in Bassa LGA, left 52 people dead and many others injured. Dozens of houses were burned in the violence, which residents blamed on members of the herding community—a claim strongly denied by the herders.
The latest developments have intensified fears of retaliatory violence in the region, which has a long history of clashes between farming and herding communities.
In response to the rising insecurity, Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, on Wednesday imposed a ban on night grazing, cattle transportation, and motorcycle movements beyond 7 p.m. as part of measures to curb the violence.
