Suspected herdsmen kill four, wreak havoc in Niger

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Suspected herdsmen kill four, wreak havoc in Niger

Hundreds of gunmen suspected to herdsmen on Saturday evening attacked Beji town in Bosso Local Government Area of Niger State killing four people.

The armed men also burnt 15 houses, four cars and 17 motorcycles.

Apart from these the armed men also destroyed the barns in which food items were stored.

Many people mostly women and children injured in the attack have been admitted at the Minna General hospital for treatment.

Our correspondent gathered that the armed men operated with Ak 47 rifles, machetes and cutlasses.

It was learnt that the attack by the unknown gunmen could be a reprisal for the attack on Fulanis by the Gbagyi in Lambata village near Paiko on Thursday evening.

The incident in Beji took place in the night which witnesses said made it difficult for the residents to react. It was learnt that the natives killed one of the herdsmen.

Immediately after the attack the herdsmen were said to have escaped through the forest.

Armed policemen, led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police have been deployed to the town to restore law and order.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Bala Elkana, when contacted confirmed the incident.

"Our men have flooded the place to bring the situation under control," Elkana said adding that the regular policemen were already being reinforced with mobile policemen.

He, however, said no arrest has been made but 'our men are on the trail of the perpetrators of this crime'.

However, the police spokesman said two suspects have been arrested in connection with the earlier incident in Lambata.