Suspected gunmen have killed more than 20 residents of Binper community in Bwai District, Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, in a midnight attack that also left several others injured.
The assailants reportedly stormed the community around midnight and continued their operation into the early hours of Tuesday, moving from one house to another and attacking residents while they slept.
The latest violence occurred barely a week after three people were killed amid heightened tension between Fulani and Mwaghavul communities in the area, following allegations of arson by both sides.
Speaking on the incident, the National President of the Mwaghavul Development Association, Bulus Dabit, said the attackers arrived in large numbers and were armed with sophisticated weapons.
Dabit said the assailants forced their way into several homes, opened the doors of residents who were asleep and attacked them.
He disclosed that more than 20 people had been confirmed dead as of Tuesday morning, while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
According to him, some residents were also still missing as efforts continued to establish their whereabouts.
The spokesperson for the Plateau State Police Command, SP Alfred Alabo, confirmed the attack but said the command could not immediately provide further details.
Alabo explained that security personnel were still conducting operations in the affected area and had yet to complete their assessment of the situation.