At least 20 people have been killed in clashes between Nigerian herdsmen and Cameroonian farmers, a lawmaker said on Thursday.

The Nigerians were looking for pasture in north-western Cameroon, Richard Wallang said.

Witnesses said the Nigerian’s were Fulani herdsmen who were fleeing conflicts with Nigerian farmers.

The incident occurred on Tuesday when the herdsmen reacted violently to demands from villagers to leave the area.

“Many villagers have fled, and many are missing,” Wallang said.

He said the herdsmen burned down houses, schools and destroyed crops. In addition to the dead, several people were injured, including some of the soldiers who later intervened.

Such clashes have occurred before, prompting Cameroon to create a new military post on the border in 2012.

More recently, Cameroon has further reinforced border security to prevent armed men from getting into its territory from Nigeria and the Central African Republic.