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

The incident, which has sparked an official investigation, is believed to have occurred on Tuesday evening after the animals were taken out to graze by two of the herder’s sons.

The FCT Treasurer of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Yahuza Ibrahim, confirmed the development in a telephone interview on Thursday, saying the livestock were found dead at different locations in the bush shortly after grazing.

According to Ibrahim, the association suspects the cattle 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.

He explained that Lawal rushed to the scene after receiving news of the incident but collapsed upon seeing the extent of the losses.

The herder was immediately evacuated to the General Hospital in Kwali, where he was admitted for treatment before being discharged on Wednesday after recovering from the shock.

Ibrahim further disclosed that the Chairman of Kwali Area Council, Hon. Nuhu Daniel Kwali, alongside Fulani community leaders, visited the bereaved herder to sympathise with him over the devastating loss.

Confirming the incident, Kwali described the report as shocking and expressed concern over the unexplained death of the animals.

He said the council had directed the relevant security agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security operatives, to carry out a comprehensive investigation to determine the exact cause of the mass livestock deaths.

The council chairman added that efforts were also being considered to provide support for the affected herder in order to ease the financial burden and prevent any possible tension between farming and herding communities in the area.