Herder Collapses After 42 Cows Die Mysteriously in FCT Community

 

By Abdulahi Musa 

A 41-year-old herder, Musa Lawal, has reportedly collapsed after 42 of his cows died under mysterious circumstances in Koroko community, Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The incident occurred on Tuesday evening when two of Lawal's sons took the cattle out to graze. According to the Treasurer of the FCT chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Yahuza Ibrahim, the animals were later found dead in different locations across the grazing area.

Ibrahim said the association was immediately alerted, prompting its leadership to dispatch officials to the scene to assess the situation.

Preliminary findings suggest the cattle may have consumed grass contaminated with chemicals, although the exact cause of death has yet to be established. Authorities are awaiting the outcome of a formal investigation before drawing conclusions. 

Witnesses said Lawal collapsed after arriving at the scene and seeing the extent of the loss. He was rushed to the General Hospital in Kwali, where he received treatment and was later discharged after recovering from the shock. 

Reacting to the incident, Chairman of the Kwali Area Council, Nuhu Daniel Kwali, described the development as unfortunate and expressed sympathy with the affected herder and his family.

The council chairman said he had visited the family alongside Fulani community leaders and directed security agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS), to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

He also disclosed that the council was considering measures to support the herder financially while working to prevent any tension between farming and herding communities in the area.