Soldiers of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) at the weekend allegedly neutralised five attackers who invaded three different villages of Guma Local Government Area in Benue State.
Witnesses said the deceased were part of the attackers who had invaded three villages of Torkula, Kponko and Kaseyo all in Mbadwem council ward of Guma LGA.
Our correspondent recalled that the Chairman of the affected local government, Anthony Shawon, had earlier on Friday raised an alarm that some invaders were attacking Torkula village about noon with dangerous weapons.
A local said that 12 people were killed during the attack on the three villages before the soldiers pursued after them and killing the five invaders.
But, another villager claimed one person was killed in the attack while two others were injured but later died at the hospital bringing the total number of deaths to three.
The villager, however added that the troops of the OPWS repelled further attacks as they swiftly trailed the invaders into the bush and killed three of them after a gun battle.
The Force Commander of OPWS, Major General, Adeyemi Yekini, declined comment even as he referred our correspondent to the Defence HeadQuarters (DHQ) Information Directorate.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Catherine Anene, however confirmed the attack but added that the Command was yet to ascertain the number of casualties at the time of this report, stressing that the intervention of joint military troops averted further attack in the affected areas.
