NSUKKA----- There was tension in Nsukka lLocal Government Council in Enugu State following the interception of a truck carrying about 27 dead cows along the Catherine Guest House Road Tuesday.

The dead cows were earlier on Monday, discovered at different locations in Ette, Aji, Imufu and Ogrute communities, in the nearby Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State.

The cause of the mysterious death of the animals is yet to be known but the leader of Fulani community in the council area, Mohammed Saidu, said the development was caused by a certain poisonous grass which grows at the onset of dry season in the local government area which shares boundary with Jovi State, adding that the dead animals were not poisoned by human beings.

Saidu further said that the dead cows were fit for consumption.

According to Saidu, an unknown number of cows also died at Obollo Afor, in Udenu Local Government Area of the state two days before the incident at Ette, Aji, Imufu and Ogrute communities.

His words, "The dry season affects cows here, that is why we are moving them to swampy areas like Abakaliki in Ebonyi State, and Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State. There is a certain grass which grows here during dry season that kills cows.

"Some died at Obollo Afor two days ago. The dead animals are not harmful when consumed."

However, reacting to the development, the Chairman of Igbo Eze Local Government Council Prince Ejike Itodo, confirmed the incident and advised the general public to desist from buying and eating beef henceforth.

“Nobody knows the root cause of the mysterious death of such animals and the best way to be safe is to avoid eating or buying beef in the open markets,” he said, adding that "this morning, (Monday) cows being herded by Fulani herdsmen in the area were observed falling and dropping dead as they journeyed from the Northern routes to their destination in South East states."

However, at Nsukka, Local Government Area, members of the Neighbourhood Watch group, intercepted a truck loaded with the dead animals along Catherine Guest House Road causing apprehension within Nsukka metropolis and the University of Nigeria, UNN, community.

It was learned that the truck driver and his escorts were heading towards the Ogige Market abattoir at the Nsukka metropolis where they would have sold the animals to unsuspecting buyers but for the timely intervention of the vigilante personnel.

There was free-for-all between the personnel of the Neighbourhood Watch and the merchants of the dead animals before the traders were over -powered and dead cows confiscated from them.