Cattle Take Over Lagos Roads

Battle rearing is predominant in places where the animals can have enough grass to feed on. The practice, which is common among the Fulani in northern Nigeria, has, however, become a practice even in places where there is little grass. Lagos State is an example.

Cattle owners, who dominate the popular abattoir in Agege area of Lagos now leave their cattle to graze without herdsmen.

The animals are wild and could run amok or stray from the line at any point in time. These cattle are often left to roam the streets from the abattoir, Oko-oba, Fagba junction to Ishaga area. In some cases, these animals stray into the road and cause serious traffic jams.

An okada rider, who does not want his name published said: “This is how these cows move around the area without somebody leading them and they disturb the smooth flow of traffic. Sometimes, they cause accidents”.

According to another resident of Fagba area, “most of these cows are owned by our northern brothers who are temperamental and when anything, even if accidentally, happens to the animals, they start to foment trouble” he said.

Also, a trader in the area said she is scared to send her children on errands “because of inappropriate handling of these cattle by their owners; and there is nobody to control them”.

We should not forget in a hurry that what happened in Jos started as a result of animals grazing on people’s farmland

The Agege area residents therefore, appeal to the Lagos State government to wade into the matter and warn cattle owners against improper handling of their animals.

—Dedeigbo Ayodeji