Armed Herdsmen Attack Village In Niger State Killing 21 People
Hoodlums suspected to be armed herdsmen on Sunday lunched an early morning attack on a community mosque in Gbara ward, in Mokwa local government area of Niger State killing 21 villagers, including the Imam of the Mosque.
The attackers who were armed with guns struck when the villagers were observing their early morning prayers on Sunday.
Several women and children sustained various degrees of injuries. The attack was as a result of an earlier disagreement between some Fulani youths and members of the affected community which resulted in the death of herder.
The disagreement was due to the failure of a herder to remit the percentage of the proceed of the land given to them by the villagers which was meant to be paid to the village head. The herds men insisted that they wouldn’t pay any money saying that the land is theirs.
According to a witness, the attackers killed everyone in the mosque including the Imam. The Niger state Police Command confirmed that the attack was a reprisal for the death of a herdsman who died as a result of a disagreement between the villagers and the herdsmen.
The Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bala Elkana who said 20 people were killed explained that the killing of a herder was managed, but it appears they were not satisfied and decided to retaliate.
He said eight people who sustained various degrees of injuries due to the commotion that occured during the attack are currently recuperating in a nearby hospital.
The Police say the community is presently in a peaceful state with mobile policemen deployed to make sure there is no further breakdown of law and order.
