Herder Dies as Mercedes-Benz Crashes into Cattle Herd on Rivers East-West Road

A yet-to-be-identified herder and 11 cows have been killed in a tragic road accident along the East-West Road in Rivers State.

The incident occurred on Thursday at Evekwu in Rumuodogu, Emohua Local Government Area, when a speeding Mercedes-Benz car crashed into a herd of cattle crossing the highway.

Eyewitnesses reported that the vehicle struck both the herders and the animals, leading to the instant death of 11 cows and one herder.

Another cattle rearer sustained injuries and was rushed to a hospital, where he is now said to be stable.

According to sources at the scene, the occupants of the Mercedes-Benz were travelling in a convoy.

They abandoned the damaged vehicle after the crash, boarded another car in the convoy, and fled before security operatives arrived.

Police officers from the Emohua Division responded to the incident. The body of the deceased herder was initially evacuated to the morgue, but relatives later took the corpse away before police could secure it.

The spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Blessing Agabe, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, confirmed the incident and said an investigation is ongoing. Agabe stated, “Yes, I can confirm the incident. One of them died. The other was injured and was rushed to the hospital. He is now stable” .

Agabe added, “However, before our men got to the scene, the owner of the Mercedes-Benz ran away. The corpse of the victim was taken away by his people, but the injured cattle rearer is responding to treatment in the hospital. Investigation is ongoing”.

A video from the scene showed several dead cows lying in the bush, with some men seen seated beside one of the carcasses.

Authorities are continuing their probe into the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash.