The death toll in the attack at Epogi Community in the Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State has risen to 27.

This was disclosed by the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA)on Tuesday.

The Director-General of the Agency, Ibrahim Inga, told reporters in Minna that 21 people were killed during the attack, while three bodies were recovered from a river.

The attackers were reported to have swooped on them while they were praying in a mosque, killing everyone, including the imam and leaving some women and children with various degrees of injury.

The incident is believed to be a reprisal after the killing of a herdsman following a disagreement over a piece of land between some Fulani youths and members of the community.

The state police spokesman, DSP Bala Elkana, who confirmed the incident, said the retaliatory attack was unexpected as the issue surrounding the killing of the herdsman had earlier been resolved. (Channels TV)