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

The FCT Treasurer of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Yahuza Ibrahim, confirmed the incident to our reporter by telephone on Thursday.

According to Ibrahim, the incident occurred on Tuesday at about 6:12pm when two of the herder’s sons took the cattle out to graze.

He said the animals were later found dead at different locations in the bush after grazing, raising suspicions that they may have consumed grass contaminated with chemicals.

Immediately we received the report, I alerted the MACBAN chairman, who directed me to proceed to the scene. We discovered that 42 cows had died. We suspect they may have eaten grass that had been sprayed with chemicals,” he said.

Ibrahim said Lawal rushed to the scene after receiving news of the incident but collapsed after discovering that 42 of his cows had died.

He said the herder was immediately taken to the General Hospital in Kwali, where he was admitted before being discharged on Wednesday after recovering from the shock.

He added that the chairman of Kwali Area Council, Hon. Nuhu Daniel Kwali, accompanied by Fulani community leaders, visited the family to sympathise with them over the loss.

Confirming the incident, chairman of Kwali Area Council, Hon. Nuhu Daniel Kwali, said he received the report with shock and sadness.

The chairman said the council had directed the relevant security agencies, including the Department of State Services and other security operatives, to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the deaths.

He added that the council was also considering measures to support the affected herder to cushion the impact of the loss and prevent any possible breakdown of peace between farmers and herders in the area.