Suspected Cattle rustlers have murdered a policeman and seven members of a local vigilance group in Niger State.

The incident occurred at the weekend in Kusherki Community in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State.

The victims were ambushed on their way to the village after receiving distress calls that the Community was under the siege of suspected hoodlums when the attacked occurred.

The hoodlums were said to have engaged the security men in exchange of gunfire that lasted three hours, during which the unnamed policeman died.

A security source said, policemen were said to have received a distress call that some armed cattle rustlers had invaded Lamba Waya village at Pandogari, which prompted the deployment of a joint team of police, Civil defence personnel and vigilance group members to track down the hoodlums.

Witnesses said the gunmen men escaped with the rustled cattle leaving seven vigilantes and one policeman dead.

Police Spokesman, Muhammad Abubakar in Niger State, said cattle rustlers were also badly injured during the exchange of gunfire with security operatives.

He said security forces had been drafted to the area with a view to apprehending the culprits.

“Our men are following the blood trails and combing the areas as we speak, “ he said.