Over 100 cattle reportedly belonging to suspected armed Fulani herdsmen have died while attempting to cross the River Benue into Nasarawa State.
The incident occurred on Saturday, with eyewitnesses saying many of the animals drowned or were buried by collapsing sandbanks along the river due to erosion.
Olikita Ekani, a farmer who said he witnessed the scene while returning from his farm, said he saw dozens of dead cows floating on the river opposite Achepe village in Nasarawa.
“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 the Benue side of the river to Nasarawa.
“When I spoke to fishermen who have been helping them cross, they told me the herdsmen have been rushing back to Nasarawa for the past one week.
“Anytime they do this, it usually means an attack is imminent. That’s what we’ve been seeing around here,” he told Daily Post.
He estimated that more than 100 cattle were lost during the crossing from Benue to Nasarawa.
A local fisherman, who requested anonymity, said at least 64 cattle died on Saturday alone.
His words: “Most of the dead cattle were killed by heavy soil falling on them as they approached the riverbank, while others drowned mid-river.
“We have never witnessed this kind of mysterious death of cattle before.
“Their known crossing points are Abugbe to Odenyi in Nasarawa State, Ocholonya to Akpekpo, Achukpa to Ijiwo, and Oleg’Ada’Gomowe to Achepe.”
