At least 27 cows were killed while undisclosed number of cattle declared missing when hoodlums attacked a Fulani herdsman in his house in Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State, North Central Nigeria, HumAngle has learnt.
The victim of the attack, Lawal Ahamadu, told HumAngle that armed hoodlums attacked his house located at Ogodo area of Ankpa on July 30 and August 16 and destroyed his source of livelihood.
Ahamadu, who narrated his experience in Lokoja, the state capital, on Thursday, said: “The attackers, who were mostly youths, came with dangerous weapons to eliminate the entire members of my family and our cattle, which were the source of our livelihood.”
He said the youth, armed with guns, knives and other dangerous weapons, first attacked his house on July 30 and made away with nine big cows.
He said the hoodlums again on August 16, they resumed and carted away 16 cows and shot seven others.
The herdsman said that the attackers came in three tricycles on the two occasions with which they carried the meat of the cows they butchered in his presence to unknown destinations.
Ahamadu further explained that two of the seven cows shot by the attackers died few days later, bringing the total number of cows killed to 27.
“I have been rendered hopeless as the hoodlums left only five young cows for me,” he said, adding: “I don’t not know how to feed three wives and children.”
Ahamadu said he reported the incidents to the police, the community head, Kogi State Vigilante Service, the local government administrator, and the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACABAN).
The Secretary of the Kogi State chapter of MACBAN, Mr. Abubakar Adamu, said that “ the matter had been taken up with the state government and the police in the state.”
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Police Command in Kogi State, DSP William Aya, also confirmed the incidents and added that three suspects had been arrested in connection with the attacks.
He, however, appealed to the Fulani community in the state not to retaliate but to allow the police to deal with the problem.
Aya said “the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Ayuba Ede, has ordered additional deployment of policemen to protect the area and forestall another attack on the herdsman.”
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