MR. HERBERT ROBERTS (Denbighshire, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received any information as to the reported fighting in Nigeria between 500 men of the second battalion of the West African Frontier Force and a body of Mitchi tribesmen, cast of Lokoja; and whether he can state what were the casualties of the British troops, and what was the object of the expedition.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINYes; General Lugard has reported that in January the Mitchis made an attack on a party engaged in constructing a telegraph line from Lokoja to Ibbi, killing one native soldier and wounding Captain Eaton and ten native soldiers. Shortly afterwards a further attack was made, in which two native soldiers were killed and three dangerously wounded. Lieutenant-Colonel Lowry-Cole has been sent with reinforcements to restore order, but no further information has at present been received except that Sergeant Hawkins has been wounded.