Suspected gunmen have attacked Binper community in Bwai District of Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, killing over 20 people.
The attack reportedly occurred around midnight and continued into the early hours of Tuesday, with the assailants moving from house to house and attacking residents while they were asleep.
The incident came less than a week after three people were killed amid tensions between Fulani and Mwaghavul communities, which had accused each other of arson.
The National President of the Mwaghavul Development Association (MDA), Bulus Dabit, said the attackers stormed the community in large numbers and were armed with sophisticated weapons.
He said the assailants forced their way into homes, opened the doors of sleeping residents and attacked them.
“The attackers in their numbers and with sophisticated weapons, moved from house to house, forcing their way in and attacking residents in their sleep, resulting in the casualty of those killed and others wounded,” Dabit said.
He said the community came under attack last night and in the early hours of Tuesday, adding that the attackers moved from house to house and killed residents.
Dabit said more than 20 deaths had been confirmed as of Tuesday morning, while several others sustained various degrees of injuries.
He added that some residents were still missing and their whereabouts remained unknown.
The spokesperson for the Plateau State Police Command, SP Alfred Alabo, confirmed the attack to DAILY POST but said he could not provide details because the police were still conducting operations in the area.
He said the command was yet to conclude its assessment of the situation.