Following the mysterious death of about 20 cows in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, residents have been advised to shun cow meat for at least one week.
According to the state government, there is the possibility that the cows ingested poisonous substances while grazing.
Speaking at a news conference on Thursday, the Director of Veterinary Services, Kogi Ministry of Agriculture, Salau Tarawa, said beef from some of the cows was already in Lokoja markets but had been recalled by the ministry.
Tarawa added that some of the cows were already in markets in Osara in Adavi Local Government Area; Ajaokuta; Obajana; Kotonkarfe; and Kakanda for sale to the people, adding that the ministry was collaborating with security agencies to question the herders.
The Head, Agro Rangers Unit, Kogi State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Bayode Emmanuel, while commenting on the situation, said the cows were discovered in Lokoja.
He said, “The cows emerged from the back of the state’s 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.”
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