Fulani herdsman jumps into River Benue, commits suicide over death of his 200 cows

 

A 56-year-Fulani herdsman, Mohammed Abdulkadire, has killed himself by jumping into River Benue after he lost 200 of his cows to hunger and lack of water.
Incident happened in the Logo Local Government Area of Benue State after the Benue State Government, on November 1, commenced the implementation of its anti-open grazing law.

The National Coordinator of Miyietti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Benue State chapter, Garus Gololo, told Punch’s correspondent that since the commencement of the Benue anti-open grazing law, Fulani herdsmen had lost about 600 cows due to poor feeding and inaccessibility to water.

Many herdsmen have relocated out of the state.
He lamented that Abdulkadire, who had 22 children, cried and jumped into the river out of frustration when he discovered that 200 out of his 500 cows had died where they were camped, looking for a means to relocate from Benue State.

The herdsmen’s leader said:

“The man killed himself simply because there is no place for his cows to graze. He was to relocate to the Awe LGA of Nasarawa State but information got to us that the area was occupied and no herdsman or herdsmen should cross over to the area again.
“We are calling on the Federal Government to intervene to quickly make provision for herdsmen in Benue State before they lose everything they have.”

SUNDAY PUNCH reports that when they contacted the state Police Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu, he told their correspondent that the suicide had not been reported.