The Nation Newspaper

Tag: cows

  • Why we stopped indiscriminate arrest of cows – Allia

    Why we stopped indiscriminate arrest of cows – Allia

    Benue State governor, Hyacinth Alia, has said that the aim of the anti-open grazing law was not to make money, but to prevent cattle from grazing openly and destroying farm produce.

     The governor said the seizure of cows and paying of fines has not in any way stopped the killing of harmless villagers by suspected herdsmen.

     Governor Alia said his administration views such fines as blood money as no amount of money can equal the life of a human being.

     The governor who was represented by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Kula Tersoo, at a Press Conference held at the Government House, in Makurdi, on Wednesday, stated that unlike the past administration, where cows were impounded and herdsmen returned to attack and killed inhabitants of the areas, his administration has put a stop to it, and is coming out with a new approach.

     “Even when the owners of the impounded cattle paid fines, they found out that their cattle were missing and confusion set in. So, my administration temporarily stopped the exercise and there is a plan to mobilize security personnel on how best to enforce the Anti-Open Grazing Law.

    Read Also: Police arrest more kidnappers over killing of Naheeba in Abuja

     The governor described such fines as blood money which the governor as a priest won’t have anything to do with it as Anti open grazing law is about enforcement and not revenue generation.

     He dismissed allegations that the Anti Open Grazing Law has been abandoned, stressing that it is still in force.

     According to him, the allegation by the Benue National Assembly Caucus that the worsening security situation in the state occasioned by herdsmen killings is attributable to the illegal dissolution of the local government councils, is akin to playing politics with the issue of security.

      “How can one relate the insecurity in Benue to the dissolution of council chairmen?” he said, adding that the Benue National Assembly caucus is playing to the gallery.

  • Ex-Delta lawmaker distributes 2000 bags of rice, cows, others 

    Ex-Delta lawmaker distributes 2000 bags of rice, cows, others 

    Erstwhile Deputy Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Friday Osanebi, has distributed 2000 bags of rice across the state.

     Osanebi, speaking during the exercise in Ashaka, said this was his own way of cushioning the effect of the high prices of food and make Christmas memorable for them.

     According to him,  Yuletide is a season to put into practice the teachings  of Jesus, which is centred around love and compassion.

     The All Progressives Congress (APC) Deputy Governorship candidate in the March 18 polls said his decision to always reach out to his people during the Yuletide is not tied to politics.

    Read Also: Stop disgracing our heritage – Internet users criticise Adeboye for sitting on Oyo monarch’s throne

    He said whether he holds political office or not, he will always put a smile on the faces of his people during Christmas.

     Apart from rice, 100 cows, 200 goats, 100 cartons of oil, 100 cartons of tin tomatoes, 50 hampers were distributed, among other items.

     Some of the recipients who couldn’t hide their joy, showered encomiums and praises on Osanebi, with many stating he’s the only political leader from Ndokwa nation who gives and empowers without sentiments.

  • Trailer loaded with cows kills three, injures 24 persons in Kebbi

    Three persons lost their live while 24 others were hospitalised in an accident involving a trailer loaded with cows along Kalgo-Jega road in Kebbi.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the loaded trailer was heading to Lagos from Birnin Kebbi when the accident occurred on Saturday afternoon.

    An eye witness, Malam Saidu Ibrahim, told NAN that the accident was as a result of tyre burst.

    He said the trailer which was also loaded with other goods and passengers somersaulted when one of the tyres bursted.

    “The driver suddenly lost control of the trailer while he was trying to stop it when the tyres bursted.

    ” The driver cabin got separated from the main body and rammed to the ground,” he explained.

    The Public Relation Officer of Federal Roads Safety Corps in the state, Abdullahi Muhammad, confirmed the accident, saying the injured were rushed to the Medical Centre, Kalgo.

    “Three persons died on the spot while 24 others were rushed to the hospital; we have also recorded  the death of seven cows.

    “It happened when the driver of trailer lost control of the vehicle following tyre burst,” he said. (NAN).

  • 1 killed as gunmen rustle 90 cows in Plateau

    A 21 year old boy, Suleiman Hashimu, has allegedly been killed by unknown gunmen who attacked him while grazing the cows.
    The attack, according to the Secretary Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Barkin Ladi, occurred at about 4pm Sunday afternoon in Kassa village of Barkin Ladi local government.
    The Fulani leader said, “The boy was grazing in the bush and at about 4pm, some armed youth who I can confirm were Berom boys attacked the boy with gun, they shot him and made away with 90 cows.
    “As the time we got the information, we rush there to discover that the boy was dead. It was the efforts of soldiers of operation Safe Haven (OPSH) from sector 7 that pursed the gunmen and recovered all the cows.”

  • Thunder kills 23 cows in Ekiti, Fulani owner laments loss

    No fewer than 23 cows have been killed by thunder in Ekiti state.

    The deafening thunder was accompanied by a downpour recorded in parts of the state in last couple of days.

    The incident, which occurred at Okeowa Eluju , a farmstead in Iloro-Ekiti, Ijero Local Government Area of the state, has caused apprehension among local residents.

    While confirming the incident, a Fulani herder and owner of the dead cows, Abdulkadri Kadiri, said he was devastated by the development.

    NAN reports that Kadiri described the incident as a strange occurrence.

    “I went to farm after about six hours heavy downpour on Monday morning, only to discover that 23 of my cows had died

    ” A fter careful observation, I found that there was no trace of bodily injuries on the dead cows . I want to believe it is an act of God since I did not offend or quarrel with anyone,” he said.

    Kadiri, however, said he had not experienced such incident in his 35 years of of business.

    The Regent of the community, High Chief Joseph Alofe who also confirmed the incident, described the victim as a gentle and peace loving herder.

    The community leader, who also described the incident as strange to the village, called on government and well meaning individuals to assist the herder, to revive his business .

  • Accident averted as cows invade Benin-Owo road

    Eighteen passengers yesterday escaped death on Owo-Benin Road in Ondo State when cows inaded the highway.

    When a similar incident occurred on Sunday, many passengers were injured.

    Sources said a Toyota Hiace bus was fortunate, as the driver skilfully avoided a disaster.

    An eyewitnes said the cows hit the the bus, marked KPA 77LG

    He said following the accident, the herders escaped with the remaining cows.

    According to him, “despite efforts by the driver to avoid the cows, two of them hit the bus. Immediately the accident happened, the herdsmen spoke to the other cows and they escaped into the bush.”

    Police spokesman Femi Joseph said the asccident did not claim any life.

    He said the police would prevent such occurrence in future.

    Joseph added that measures are being taken to prevent cows on major roads.

  • Gunmen kill herdsman, 15 cows in Plateau-PPRO

    Gunmen kill herdsman, 15 cows in Plateau-PPRO

    The Police on Tuesday confirmed that unknown gunmen killed a Fulani herdsman and 15 cows at Rafin-Bauna community of Iregwe land in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau.

    Terna Tyopev, the spokesman of the Police Command in the state told our reporter in Jos that the incident happened at about 5:30 p.m on Monday.

    Tyopev said that two Iregwe youths were on Monday also attacked and severely injured at about 6 pm while returning from a mining site at Gyero community

    “At about 17:30hrs we received information that a Fulani man was killed and 15 of his cows slaughtered by gunmen suspected to be Iregwe people at Rafin-Bauna village of Bassa Local Government.

    “We are yet to ascertain the name and address of the slain victim.

    Read Also: Cows cause accident on Ibadan highway

    “Similarly, two Iregwe youths while returning from a mining site at Gyero were attacked by armed men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, and as a result sustained various degree of injuries,” he said.

    The spokesman said the two injured youths were receiving treatment at Enos Hospital, Miango.

    Tyopev said investigation was ongoing to unravel those behind the acts.

  • ‘Herdsmen’ steal 99 cows from farm

    ‘Herdsmen’ steal 99 cows from farm

    Ninety-nine cows have been carted away from the farm of the late Chief Silas Daniyan, SBD Farms Limited in Mopa, headquarters of Mopa-moro local government, Kogi State.

    The incident, which occurred around 7pm yesterday, has led to apprehension.One of the farm tenders, Laisi Musa, who had taken the cows out on grazing, was dealt several machete cuts by the attackers. He is at the Rehoboth Clinic and Maternity, Mopa, where doctors are battling to save his life.

    A resident of Mopa, Mr. Sola Daramola, said unknown Fulani herdsmen attacked Musa, who “went on normal daily work, taking those cows for pastures toward the hill within the farm land”.

    Daramola said: “They were to return at about 6pm, unfortunately he did not return. So, they were searching for him, on the instruction of his elder brother, by going through where they normallly take there cows to pasture and met him seriously macheted. His fate is in hands of God”.

  • Cows cause accident on Ibadan highway

    Cows cause accident on Ibadan highway

    •Seven persons injured on Ibadan-Abeokuta road
    •Police avert bloody clash

    Seven persons were injured yesterday in an accident involving a passenger car and about 20 cows at Omi-Adio in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, end of the Ibadan-Abeokuta expressway.

    Nobody died in the mishap.

    Also, the police averted a bloody clash between Fulani settlers and some residents of the surrounding villages (host communities) on the scene of the accident.

    The policemen were on the scene to convey the injured.

    A blue Toyota car bus loaded with 10 passengers, it was gathered, was heading to Ibadan from Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, when the accident occurred between Aba-Teacher and Aba-Oke village at Omi Adio.

    Those who sustained injuries, the driver and six others were said to have been taken to a private hospital for treatment.

    One of the cows with a knee injury was removed from the expressway to prevent it from causing more accident on the highway.

    An eyewitness said immediately the accident occurred, a young Fulani man, who was directing the cows, called the cows and ran into the bush without caring for the injured passengers in the wrecked Toyota car bus.

    The eyewitness said: “It was a terrible scene. This is not the first time we have witnessed accidents by herdsmen. They never listen to the warning that they should not take their cows near the expressway.

    “God has been so kind to these passengers. They could have died. The vehicle was badly damaged. But instead of making effort to save life, the Fulani man just called his cows in his language. Immediately, all the cows ran after him, except the injured one on the expressway.

    “This is very bad. Something urgent must be done to avoid this problem on the highway.”

    The cows were said to have sped off with the herdsman into the bush.

    Sympathisers, mostly people from the surrounding villages, pursued the Fulani man but could not trace him.

    Some residents, who participated in the rescue to remove the trapped passengers from the wrecked vehicle, started mobilising for a manhunt for the Fulani herdsmen.

    It was learnt that while the villagers were about to unleash mayhem on the herdsmen, the driver of the vehicle arrived the scene with two policemen from nearby Omi-Adio Police Station.

    The policemen urged the angry residents to avoid making trouble with the herdsmen, adding that the matter had been reported at the station.

    A police source at the station confirmed the incident, assuring the people that normalcy had returned to the area.

     

     

     

     

  • Cows invade Akure airport runway, delay plane’s landing

    Cows invade Akure airport runway, delay plane’s landing

    • Fayose hails Air Peace pilot for saving passengers’ lives

    A herd of cows yesterday invaded the runway of the Akure Airport, preventing an Air Peace plane from landing for more than 15 minutes.

    Flight P4 7002 from Lagos was preparing to land at about 12.15pm when the pilot sighted the animals on the runway.

    The cows had wandered from surrounding fields and bush where they were foraging for grass.

    The pilot, Captain Inyang, apparently alerted the control tower which, in turn, passed the information to the security personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.

    The security officials swiftly cleared the animals off the runway to enable the plane land, seven minutes after schedule.

    A witness to the drama, Governor Ayodele Fayose of neighbouring Ekiti State, took to the social media to express his disgust at the development.

    Writing on his Twitter handle, Fayose said: “Today, while at the Akure Airport to board Air Peace commercial flight to Lagos, I witnessed cows taking over the Airport runway and preventing Aircraft No. 5NBQQ from landing for more than 15 minutes. Thanks to Capt Inyang for saving the lives of the passengers.”

    Reacting to the development, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, in a press release yesterday, “apologised to Air Peace Airlines and our esteemed passengers for a runway incursion incident that prevented an Akure airport bound flight from landing for some minutes.

    The release signed by Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, said the Air Peace flight, which left Lagos for Akure could not land immediately as some cows had strayed into the runway of the airport.

    She explained that “however, normalcy was restored quickly, as officers of the aviation security department quickly dispersed the cows from the runway and the aircraft was cleared for landing.

    “The Authority will like to assure travellers and the general public that efforts are already ongoing to close the gap that aided this incident,” she said, adding that “FAAN is committed to our core values of safety, security and comfort.”