By Ochuko Akuopha

OLEH—POLICE in Delta State have arrested an herbalist, Mr. O. Bassey, in connection with the attack on a herdsman and slaughtering of one his cows at Ossissa community, Ndokwa East Local East Local Government Area of the state.

It was learned that the herdsman was heading towards Ossissa community with eight cows, when he was accosted by hoodlums suspected to be cattle rustlers, who attacked him around the Ossisa Bridge axis of the Ughelli-Asaba Expressway.

Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, Mr. Andrew Aniamaka, who confirmed the arrest yesterday, said the assailants, numbering four, opened gunfire at the herdsman “but the bullet hit one of the cows; thereafter, they started beating him with machetes and seriously injured him.”

He said the shot cow was discovered to have been butchered at a farm belonging to the herbalist in the Umuleke area of the Ossissa community.

He said the herbalist had denied involvement in the incident, adding that police had intensified investigation into the matter to ensure that everyone involved is brought to book.