The Nigeria
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, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in
Minna.
Agwu said that
the incident occurred at 2.00 a.m. on Friday in the community located in Bosso
Local Government Area of the state.
“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,’’ she said.
Agwu said that
arms and ammunition were discovered during the operation which was still
ongoing.
“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,’’ she said.
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.’’
“It was purely
a military operation. We (police) were not involved,” he told NAN.
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