Gunmen have reportedly shot dead two herders and injured a vigilante guard at a Fulani settlement in Mawogi II village under Gawu, Abaji area council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Ibrahim Yakubu, a local security guard, said the incident happened in the early hours of Tuesday.

He said the gunmen suspected to be cattle rustlers invaded herders settlement in the area.

Yakubu said two of the herders who tried to resist them were gunned down.

He said sounds of gunshot attracted the attention of villagers who put calls across to the vigilantes at neighboring Gawu village.

He said though the gunmen fled and abandoned the cows after exchanging fire with the vigilantes, the injured vigilante member has been taken to a hospital in neighboring Lambata under Niger state.

?In fact, it was the quick intervention of the vigilante that saved the situation, if not, they could have succeeded in escaping with the cows. One the herders died on the spot while they second one died on the way to the hospital in Lambata,? he said.

The Ardon Fulani In Gawu, Malam Dahiru Abdullahi, confirmed the incident to our reporter through telephone.

Our correspondent learnt that the gunmen came through Mayaki forest, a neighboring community under Lapai LGA of Niger state.

Spokeswoman of the FCT police command, SP Adeh Josephine, said the command is not aware of the incident.

She promised to enquire from the police division in the area and revert, but she had not done so as of the time of filing this report. (Daily Trust)