The Nigerian Army said on Friday that three soldiers
and seven civilians died in a clash between soldiers
and some residents of Kpaidna community in Niger.

Major Njideka Agwu, the Assistant Director, Army
Public Relations, 31 Artillery Brigade, Minna, said that the incident occurred at 2.00 a.m. on Friday in the community located in Bosso Local Government Area of the state.

He said, “The 31 Artillery Brigade of the Nigeria
Army, Minna, was on a joint operation with the
Nigeria Air Force Quick Response Group in the area
when we were attacked by the villagers.

“We were on a cordon and search operation in the
village because we got intelligence report that there
were caches of arms and ammunitions in the area.

“During the operation, three soldiers and seven
civilians lost their lives, while 57 villagers were
arrested by the joint operation.’’

Agwu said that arms and ammunition were
discovered during the operation which was still
ongoing.

She said, “Trouble started when some of the villagers denied the military access to their houses to enable soldiers search for arms and ammunition believed to be stockpiled there.

“During the clash, six operation vehicles belonging to the army were destroyed by the villagers; four were set ablaze while two were vandalised.’’

Agwu enjoined law abiding citizens in the area to go
about their normal businesses as the operation was
to safeguard lives and property.

She urged members of the public with useful
information that would lead to the recovery of arms
and ammunitions in the area to report to the nearest security agency.

DSP Bala Elkanah, the Police Public Relations Officer
in the state, confirmed the incident which he
described as “purely military matter.’’

He said, “It was purely a military operation. We
(police) were not involved.”

NAN

- Punch