Kogi State government has temporarily banned the consumption of beef in the state over suspected poisoning that led to mysterious death of no fewer than 20 cows in Lokoja.
Director of Veterinary Services, Kogi Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Salau Tarawa, made this known in a statement issued in Lokoja on Thursday.
Tarawa said upon receiving the report, officials of the Ministry swung into action and retrieved some of the dead cows that were discovered in the market.
He said some of the cows had already been taken to markets in Osara in Adavi Local Government Area; to Ajaokuta, to Obajana, to Kotonkarfe and to 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’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,’’ he said.
Mr Emmanuel assured that the NSCDC would investigate the development thoroughly to ascertain where the dead cows had grazed and also to prevent possible sale and consumption of the infected beef.
