Suspected mercenaries were reportedly killed by troops of 72 Special Forces SF Battalion in Makurdi, while a clash between the two Tiv clans was also averted.

Army spokesman Col. Sagir Musa on Tuesday, confirmed this in a statement that the troops laid an ambush on Monday after receiving information on a planned attack on Katsina-Ala town by suspected Shitile militia.

Reports from the Vanguard said that, according to Musa, following the ambush, troops were able to recover one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), two AK 47 rifles, 198 7.62 9mm rounds of NATO ammunition, 16 7.63 mm rounds of Special ammunition, two vehicles and seven motorcycles.

Musa commended those who provided the information that led to the prevention of the clash and urged Nigerians to always be their “brother’s keeper’’. He also called on the public to always give useful information to security agencies for decisive action, the reports said.