More than 100 cattle belonging to suspected armed herdsmen died under mysterious circumstances while crossing the River Benue on June 14. Witnesses reported some animals crushed by collapsing riverbanks, while others drowned during the crossing to Nasarawa State. Local fishermen noted unusual herd movements, interpreting them as potential precursors to attacks.
• 64 cattle confirmed dead in single-day incident at multiple crossing points
• Erosion-induced sand collapses and drowning are cited as primary causes
• No official police statement despite witness accounts of heightened herder activity
Why does nature's intervention matter? The river's claimed "silent judgment" reflects deeper tensions in Nigeria's farmer-herder crisis. While environmental factors caused this tragedy, locals view it through the lens of cyclical violence, interpreting the herdsmen's rushed retreat as an attack. This incident exposes how natural disasters become politicized in conflict zones, where even geography takes sides.
