Residents of Kpaidana village in Niger State, on Thursday, August 4, engaged the military in a deadly clash after mistaking military men for the dreaded Fulani herdsmen.

The incident reportedly left 5 people dead and about 2 others injured.

The combined team of soldiers and Air Force men had according to reports stormed the community after gathering intelligence reports about ammunition believed to be hidden in the houses of some residents.

The villagers however immediately attacked the soldiers, leading to the death of at least 5 people. 2 people were injured and 4 Army vehicles were found in the area, burnt.

The identities of the injured persons believed to be soldiers were yet to be released as at the time of this report.

The Niger State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, confirmed the incident. He however stated that; “It was purely a military operation. We were not involved in it.”

However, Elkana noted that there was no civilian casualty. And the two soldiers injured during the clash are receiving treatment at the Minna General Hospital, and Police Clinic respectively.

Assistant Director Army Public Relations, Major Njideka Agwu, also confirmed the incident.

“We heard that there were arms and ammunition in that village and we went for cordon and search. Unfortunately the villagers opened fire on us. We don’t know the number of casualty as of now because the information is sketchy.”

“Both troops and field commanders are still at the location and investigation is in progress,” he added.

Meanwhile, Kpaidana community residents have began exiting in their droves for fear of a reprisal attack from the soldiers.

Many of the villagers with luggage on their heads were seen at Gidan Kwanu, some 60 kilometres from where the incident happened, in search of a safe haven.

Communities are now taking laws into their own hands in dealing with the Fulani herdsmen. This stems from the government’s slow response.

[img]http://3.bp..com/-2MaaAVGrGso/V6RVC1wJaEI/AAAAAAAACP8/1brlo2ESB0UwZDO-HpVRpz0sV4bCJP5nwCK4B/s1600/AH-1-Cobra-Helicopter.jpg[/img]

Source: [url]Vibes.ng[/url]

See drama Why do I have this feeling that our Armed Forces are more with disarming citizens trying to protect themselves from herdsmen than really going after the bloodthirsty herdsman?

Who told them there were arms in the village? Ain't the police supposed to go in and investigate with a search warrant from a magistrate? Why do we keep doing things with total neglect to the rule of Law in this country.

Now they will be out for blood on innocent civilians.

When they hear that people are preparing to protect themselves from those herdsmen they attack them, yet when they hear call for help from these same people they so galantly disarm......they pretend like nothing they can do. Then after the deaths and tears they will say the village was too far for them to reach on time. What else can the common man do to protect his life der heaven?


Our Military needs another round of training.

Our so called military keeps defending herdsmen.

Thank God..Abi Second To Comment...Watz Are They Even Sayin.

kai

How on earth did the so called villagers mistake fully dressed military men (& most likely in military helicopters) for Fulani Herdsmen?
I have never heard any northern village fighting with Fulani herdsmen before, how come the first time they had the 'courage' to fight back it turned out to be against the military?

pacino26:
See drama Why do I have this feeling that our Armed Forces are more with disarming citizens trying to protect themselves from herdsmen than really going after the bloodthirsty herdsman?

Who told them there were arms in the village? Ain't the police supposed to go in and investigate with a search warrant from a magistrate? Why do we keep doing things with total neglect to the rule of Law in this country.

Now they will be out for blood on innocent civilians.

It didn't occur to you that maybe the weapons cache they traced to the village belongs to those who pretend to be villagers whereas they are the herdsmen

DaBullIT:



It didn't occur to you that maybe the weapons cache they traced to the village belongs to those who pretend to be villagers whereas they are the herdsmen

That explains the commando style abi? You've a point there but the headline days otherwise. I keep asking why stack weapons in the first place; Herdsmen! Why attack soldiers; mistaken herdsmen identity.

Do the Nigeria police conduct searching; Yes. Were they part of the team; No! Do the military get involved in civil matters (Fulani herdsmen) ; No (according to Minister of Interior)


Do the maths.. .....