A 41-year-old herder, Musa Lawal, reportedly collapsed after 42 of his cows died in Koroko community, Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The FCT Treasurer of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Yahuza Ibrahim, confirmed the incident in a report on Thursday.

According to Ibrahim, the incident occurred on Tuesday at about 6:12pm when two of the herder’s sons took the cattle out to graze.

He said the animals were later found dead at different locations in the bush after grazing, raising suspicions that they may have consumed grass contaminated with chemicals.
“Immediately we received the report, I alerted the MACBAN chairman, who directed me to proceed to the scene. We discovered that 42 cows had died. We suspect they may have eaten grass that had been sprayed with chemicals,” he said.

Ibrahim said Lawal rushed to the scene after receiving news of the incident but collapsed after discovering that 42 of his cows had died.

He said the herder was immediately taken to the General Hospital in Kwali, where he was admitted before being discharged on Wednesday after recovering from the shock.

He added that the chairman of Kwali Area Council, Hon. Nuhu Daniel Kwali, accompanied by Fulani community leaders, visited the family to sympathise with them over the loss.

Confirming the incident, chairman of Kwali Area Council, Hon. Nuhu Daniel Kwali, said he received the report with shock and sadness.

The chairman said the council had directed the relevant security agencies, including the Department of State Services and other security operatives, to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the deaths.

He added that the council was also considering measures to support the affected herder to cushion the impact of the loss and prevent any possible breakdown of peace between farmers and herders in the area.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday rejected the routine deployment of troops of the armed forces during elections, saying the Force should remain exceptional.

The electoral body specifically said the deployment of the military should arise only where prevailing security conditions require armed forces’ support in aid of the civil authorities.

The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, who spoke through the Director of Legal at the Commission, Al-Hassan Umar stated this at Army War College, Abuja while delivering a keynote address at a seminar.

According to the INEC chairman, the Constitution clearly defines the roles of institutions involved in election management, arguing that the Nigeria Police Force remains the lead agency for election security.

The electoral body boss said, “As both a teacher and practitioner of the law, permit me to begin by reaffirming the constitutional framework governing election security in Nigeria.

“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria clearly delineates the responsibilities of institutions involved in the electoral process.

“INEC is constitutionally mandated to organise, undertake and supervise elections, while the Nigeria Police Force remains the lead agency for election security under the framework of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.

“The role of the Armed Forces is exceptional rather than routine. Their deployment arises only where prevailing security conditions require military support in aid of the civil authorities and strictly in accordance with the Constitution and other applicable laws.”

The Osun State Police Command has released the Secretary to the State Government, SSG Mr Teslim Igbalaye, from its custody.

Igbalaye was arrested along with five others for allegedly committing vote-buying-related offences, as the police claimed it recovered Permanent Voter’s Cards, PVCs, cash sums and a voters’ register from his house.

The police also identified the other suspects arrested at the residence as Abiodun Arowomole, popularly known as “Ashipa”, who was described as a wanted murder suspect on the command’s watch list, alongside Taiwo Akande, Lukman Adeyemo, Muftau Olaoye, and Musiliu Aderemi.

The command’s spokesperson DSP Abiodun Ojelabi said the SSG has been released this afternoon, but the investigation is ongoing in the matter.

“I can only tell you that the SSG, Mr Teslim Igbalaye, has been released this afternoon, and the investigation is still ongoing,” he informed newsmen following enquires.