Eight persons died and two others were injured in a clash between military personnel and residents of Kpaidna in Bosso local government of Niger State.
As at yesterday, the deceased were unidentified but the injured were said to be military personnel.
Trouble started when the villagers, around 1.30 am, mistook a team of soldiers and Air Force personnel as Fulani herdsmen.
As soon as the team entered the village, the villagers, who had been warned of herdsmen invasion, attacked them. Four vehicles belonging to the team were burnt.
Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Major Njideka Agwu, who confirmed the incident, said the team was in the community following intelligence reports that arms and ammunition were hidden in some houses.
The number of casualty is still unknown.
“We heard 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 because information is still sketchy,” he said.
Police spokesman Bala Elkana said the incident was a military operation, which went awry, adding that the Police are not involved.
Elkana hinted that one of the injured soldiers was admitted at the Police clinic while the other was receiving treatment at the Minna General Hospital.
Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has ordered an investigation, giving the Army 24 hours to report back.