A 54-year-old farmer, Jeremiah Onuminya, from the Usha community in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State, reportedly collapsed and died while fleeing after a false alarm about an attack.
According to The PUNCH, eyewitness Onuminya was on his way to his farm on Monday when some youths suddenly shouted, “Fulani! Fulani!!” Fearing for his safety, he attempted to escape but collapsed a few meters from his home and died on the spot.
“The farm he was heading to is close to the one where 20 cows were allegedly poisoned last Saturday,” a local resident told our correspondent.
Confirming the incident in a statement issued in Makurdi on Wednesday, the Chairman of Agatu Local Government Area, Melvin James, expressed deep sorrow over the farmer’s death and urged residents to avoid spreading false information that could incite panic.
“Preliminary investigations, corroborated by security agencies and Mr. Onuminya’s family, indicate that he collapsed due to exhaustion while fleeing, and there was no evidence of any assault by Fulani herdsmen,” James stated.
He further revealed that an autopsy was suggested to determine the exact cause of death, but the deceased’s family declined, attributing his passing to health complications.
James also emphasized the dangers of misinformation, urging the public to verify information before spreading it. “False alarms pose significant risks to people’s well-being and disrupt the peace in our communities,” he cautioned.
The council chairman reassured residents of ongoing efforts to maintain security in Agatu and pledged to work closely with security agencies to prevent further unrest.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Miyeitti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria in Benue State, Risku Mohammed, had earlier alleged that a farmer in Usha was responsible for poisoning 20 cows belonging to a herder.
