At least 32 cows have died under suspicious circumstances in Plateau State’s Bassa Local Government Area, raising fresh tensions in an area long plagued by violent attacks between farmers and herders.
A security analyst in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, said troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) in Bassa axis swiftly intervened following the mysterious death of the cows.
The incident, which occurred in an open field along the Zawura – Jebbu Miango axis, between Dutsen Kura and Jebbu Miango, raised concerns about escalating farmer-herder tensions in the state.
The area is notorious for deadly clashes, often rooted in land disputes and ethno-religious divisions.
Military intelligence sources explained that the cattle, belonging to a local herder, Mr. Samaila Nuhu, began exhibiting unusual symptoms shortly after grazing on the field, and all 32 cows later died, fueling suspicions of intentional poisoning.
Responding to a distress call, troops from Sector 3 of OPSH were deployed to the scene. They confirmed that the animals had been slaughtered by the herders themselves in an attempt to salvage consumable meat.
A search of the area led to the discovery of suspected poisoned vegetables, tomatoes and garden eggs scattered across the grazing field.
Notably, no homes or farmlands were found nearby, deepening suspicion that the contamination was a targeted act by unknown individuals.
To prevent the situation from escalating into a cycle of revenge attacks, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division and Commander of OPSH led a high-level delegation – including the Bassa LGA Chairman, Divisional Police Officer, and other security stakeholders – to the scene for an immediate on-the-spot assessment.
The visit, according to military sources, helped to de-escalate tensions within the herding community.
There have been reports of cattle poisoning in areas around the Mangu local government in the last two weeks.
This latest incident adds to a string of recent attacks and security breaches in Plateau, especially in Bassa, Riyom, Mangu, and Barkin Ladi LGAs, which have witnessed a resurgence of violence in recent weeks that killed about 100 persons within two weeks.
