5 die in Niger as Soldiers were mistaken for invading herdsmen in a village

Minna— FIVE persons were feared dead, two injured
and four vehicles destroyed, yesterday, following
the invasion of Kpaidma village in Bosso Local
Government Area of Niger State by a joint military
team of the Army and Air Force men, said to be
searching for arms and ammunition in the village.

The operation was said to have taken place around
1a.m. it was  gathered that the invasion was
sequel to a tip-off that weapons were being
stockpiled in the village.
It was gathered that immediately the team
commenced operation, the villagers woke up and
responded in self-defence, thinking herdsmen had
invaded.

When contacted, the state Police Command
spokesman, Bala Elkana, confirmed the military
operation, but said the Command was not aware of
any death, saying “we actually received a distress
call around 1a.m. that armed herdsmen had
invaded a village.
“The command immediately sent mobile policemen
and other combatants to the village, only to
discover that it was a military operation. But I am
not aware of any death.”
Elkana, however, confirmed that two persons were
injured and were recuperating, while four vehicles
belonging to the Army were destroyed.

He said immediately the military started the
operation, the villagers who had always been on
the alert since the frequent invasions of the village
by armed herdsmen, immediately mobilised and
embarked on counter-attacks, not knowing that it
was a military operation.
He said that the situation had now been brought
under control with armed policemen keeping vigil
in the area to allay the fear of the residents of the
village and its suburbs.
The Assistant Director Army Public Relations, Major
Njideka Agwu, said there was information that
“arms and ammunition were being stockpiled in the
village and we went for a search immediately for
verification and clarification.
“Unfortunately, the villagers opened fire on us and
we do not know the number of causalities for now.
But fielders and troops are still at the location and
investigations are still going on.”