Eight persons died and two others were seriously injured in a clash between some military personnel and villagers in Kpaidna village in the Bosso local government area of Niger state.
The two injured persons were alleged to be army personnel while the identities of the deceased were yet to be known as at the time of filing this report.
The incident which occurred at about 1.30am on Thursday morning began when the villagers mistook a team of soldiers and Nigeria Air force personnel who were in the village on official operation as armed Fulani herdsmen.
Information from the Assistant Director Army Public Relations, Major Njideka Agwu disclosed that the military team was in the village because intelligence reports claimed that some arms and ammunition were hidden in some houses in the community.
As soon as the military team entered the villages, the villagers who have been warned of Fulani herdsmen invasion attacked the team, a situation which led to the death of the five people and injury to the two others.
Four of the vehicles belonging to the army were burnt by the villagers.
The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations in Niger state, Major Njideka Agwu confirmed the story adding that the number of casualty is yet unknown.
“We heard that there were arms and ammunition in that village, so the military team went for cordon and search.
“Unfortunately, the villagers opened fire on the team. The number of casualty is unknown now because the information is still sketchy”.
The Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana further explained that the incident was a military operation which went awry adding that the Police is not involved in it.
Elkana then disclosed that one of the two soldiers injured have been admitted at the Police clinic while the other was receiving treatment at the Minna General hospital.
Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello have directed a full scale investigation to be done regarding the clash giving the army 24 hours to get back to him with their report.
Bello who was clearly displeased about the high casualty rate condemned the clash adding that both sides should have exercised restraint.
