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By Myke Agunwa
About 100 cattle belonging to suspected armed Fulani herdsmen terrorizing Benue state have reportedly died while crossing River Benue.
The cows died on Saturday in mysterious circumstances as sand collapsed on them due to a landslide, and some drowned while swimming across the Benue River to Nasarawa State.
Recall that Benue state has been under heavy attack by armed men suspected to be herders.
Recent attacks in the State left over 160 people dead, including 100 killed in Yelewata (Guma LGA) in mid-June 2025, and dozens more in Gwer West, Apa, and Aondona. Entire villages were razed, displacing thousands and worsening the humanitarian crisis.
In response, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, relocated to Makurdi on June 4 to better coordinate military operations and troops.
But reactions are mixed on the impact of the presence of the army boss, as killings seem to have intensified, with more communities still under threat.
An eyewitness known as Olikita Ekani, who witnessed the incident while returning from his farm on Saturday said,
“I was coming from my farm on Saturday, June 14, 2025, and I saw several dead cows floating on the River Benue opposite Achepe village in Nasarawa State.
“I also saw hundreds of Fulani herdsmen rushing and crossing from Benue to Nasarawa side.
“When I contacted the fishermen who were assisting in crossing the herdsmen from the Benue side of the river to the Nasarawa side, they told me the herdsmen have been rushing and crossing back to Nasarawa State the past one week, which is an indication of impending attacks ahead.
“Anytime they are rushing and crossing like this, just know that attacks are imminent. This is what has been happening here for the past one week.”
He said they have lost more than 100 cows as they attempted crossing from Benue side to Nasarawa.
A fisherman who spoke on condition of anonymity said 64 cattle died Saturday alone.
“Most of the dead cattle were killed by heavy soil falling on them when they came close to the land, while some drown while swimming.
“We have never witnessed this kind of mysterious death of cattle before.
“Their entry and crossing points are at Abugbe to Odenyi in Nasarawa State, Ocholonya to Akpekpo, Achukpa to Ijiwo, and Oleg’Ada’Gomowe to Achepe.”
The spokesperson of the Benue State Police Command, DSP Udeme Edet, could not be reached to confirm the incident as at the time of this report.