A tragic incident occurred in the Usha community of Agatu Local Government Area, Benue State, where a 54-year-old farmer, Jeremiah Onuminya, collapsed and died after being startled by a false alarm about an impending attack.

Onuminya was en route to his farm when some youths in the village shouted “Fulani! Fulani!” causing panic. In a desperate attempt to escape, he ran back home but collapsed just a few meters from his house. Sources from the village reported that he suffered a fatal collapse due to the stress of the situation.

The local chairman, Melvin James, confirmed the incident, noting that Onuminya’s farm was near another farm where 20 cows had allegedly been poisoned the previous Saturday. James expressed condolences to the family and suggested an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death, but the family declined, believing his death was due to health complications exacerbated by the incident.

In a statement, James called for calm among residents and cautioned against spreading unverified information, highlighting the dangers of false alarms. He emphasized the need for community unity and cooperation with security agencies to ensure safety.

The chairman also urged the public to verify information before sharing it, aiming to prevent future tragedies stemming from panic-driven incidents. Meanwhile, concerns were raised by the Miyeitti Ala Cattle Breeders Association regarding the poisoning of cows, indicating ongoing tensions in the area.