Uniformed men suspected to be Nigerian soldiers on Thursday stormed a community in Benue State and  burnt down over 300 houses.

The men in uniform took over Naka village, the headquarters of Gwer Local Government Area at about 11:00 am and began setting houses on fire to the shock and apprehension of the local residents.

According to Francis Ayagah, the Chairman of Gwer Local Government, the soldiers were allegedly on a reprisal attack following the killing of one of their colleagues near the community on Wednesday.

“A soldier was killed by hoodlums yesterday but I met with the Brigade Commander around 4:30 am today. He gave me a list of suspects and we arrested five of them overnight. It was while we were trying to take them to the Brigade that soldiers stormed the town and started burning houses.

“A whole part of the town has been completely burnt down and we are appealing for help and understanding from the soldiers,” Ayagah said.

The troops are reported to have spent several hours during the raid, burning down houses and other property in Naka which is about 45 kilometres from Makurdi, the state capital.