A tragic incident in the Usha community of Agatu Local Government Area, Benue State, has resulted in the death of a 54-year-old farmer, Jeremiah Onuminya, who collapsed while fleeing a false alarm of a herder attack. Hobnob News reports on the unfortunate event and the rising tensions in the region.
According to community sources, Onuminya was on his way to his farm on Monday, March 31st, when a sudden outburst of panic erupted among local youths. Shouts of “Fulani! Fulani!” filled the air, triggering a wave of fear. In a desperate attempt to escape what he believed to be an imminent attack, Onuminya ran, only to collapse a short distance from his home, succumbing to death on the spot.
The incident occurred against a backdrop of heightened tension in the community, following the alleged poisoning of 20 cows on a nearby farm just days prior. This incident had already created a sense of unease and suspicion among residents.
Melvin James, the Chairman of Agatu Local Government, confirmed the tragic death in a statement released on Wednesday. He expressed his condolences to Onuminya’s family and provided details of the initial investigations. According to James, evidence gathered by security agencies and corroborated by the deceased’s family suggests that Onuminya collapsed due to exhaustion while attempting to flee, and there was no evidence of an actual attack.
“In an effort to determine the exact cause of death, the chairman suggested an autopsy; however, the family declined, accepting that Mr. Onuminya’s passing resulted from health complications,” the statement, issued by his media aide, Solomon Obochi, read.
James appealed to residents to refrain from spreading unverified information that could incite panic and destabilize the fragile peace in the area. He emphasized the serious risks posed by false alarms, which can undermine public safety and efforts to foster security and unity within the community.
The incident underscores the delicate security situation in the region, where tensions between farmers and herders remain a significant concern. It also highlights the potential for misinformation to have devastating consequences.
Furthermore, it should be noted that prior to this event, the Benue State chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Risku Mohammed, had accused a local farmer of poisoning 20 cows belonging to one of its members, further illustrating the existing animosity in the area. Hobnob News will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as they become available.
