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The Alale of Akungba Akoko, in Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State, Oba Sunday Ajimo, has warned his subjects not to consume cow meat as 30 cows died mysteriously in the community.
Speaking with newsmen on Tuesday, the monarch stated that he had earlier instructed butchers and other concerned persons not to sell the dead cows to the residents as the meat would be inimical to their health, adding that any meat merchant caught selling the meat of the dead cows would be prosecuted.
“The cows were seen falling down mysteriously. Some said they drank water suspected to have been poisoned or that they ate poisoned plants. I have given instructions that the cows should not be sold under any circumstance since the cause of death is not known yet,” the monarch said.
He added that health officials from the local government council had been notified of the incident for appropriate action.
It was learnt that the incident happened around 8pm on Monday at the residence of the owner of the cows near the A.U.D Secondary School in the community.
It was gathered that the cows were taken out for grazing in the afternoon and returned to the camp in the evening, but they were found dead few hours after they returned.
“The cows must have eaten poison during grazing, because it was shortly after their return that 30 of the cows in the herd started slumping and dying.
“When the owner of the cows, Ibrahim Saliu, also known as Baba Saliu, saw the dead cows, he raised the alarm to inform neighbours around him about the incident,” a source told The Punch.