Residents of Lokoja, Kogi State capital, are puzzling over a strange death that had afflicted cattle in the area.
The state government says there is the possibility that the cows ingested poisonous substances while grazing.
Consequently it has warned residents against consuming cow meat for at least one week.
Director of Veterinary Services, Kogi State Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Salau Tarawa, gave the warning at a news conference on Thursday.
He said beef from some of the cattle were already in Lokoja markets, but had been withdrawn.
However, Tarawa noted that some of the cows had already been taken to markets in Osara in Adavi Local Government Area; Ajaokuta, Obajana, Kotonkarfe and Kakanda for sale to members of the public.
He said the ministry was collaborating with security agencies to bring the herders to question.
Speaking on the development, Head, Agro Rangers Unit Kogi State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Bayode Emmanuel, said the cows were discovered in Lokoja.
“The cows emerged from the back of the state secretariat complex where they had gone to graze. All of a sudden, they started behaving funny, slumped and died within minutes.
“Upon interrogation, the herder said he was coming out with the cows after grazing when the incident happened”.
Emmanuel assured that the NSCDC would investigate the development thoroughly to ascertain where the dead cows had grazed towards preventing possible sale and consumption of the infected beef.
