At least 113 people were killed in attacks by armed groups between Saturday night and Monday in several towns in Plateau state, central Nigeria, local authorities announced this Monday.
“Hostilities began on Saturday and continued on Monday morning,” Kassah, president of the governing council of Bokkos, a district in the region affected by religious and ethnic tensions, told AFP on Monday.
“At least 113 bodies were found,” he said, adding that “more than 300 people” were injured and taken to hospitals in Bokkos, Jos and Barkin Ladi.
The attack took place in the village of Mushu, in Plateau state, a region plagued by religious and ethnic tensions for several years.
“We were sleeping at night when suddenly very loud gunshots were heard. We were scared because we were not expecting any attack,” explained Markus Amorudu, a resident of the village.
“People hid, but the attackers captured many, some died and others were injured,” he added.
The state’s governor, Caleb Mutfwang, condemned the attack, calling it “barbaric, brutal and unjustified.”
After the attack, police and military personnel were deployed to monitor the area and prevent public disorder.
“The government will take proactive measures to stop the ongoing attacks against innocent citizens,” said Gyang Bere, the governor’s spokesman.
In Nigeria, residents of the northwestern and central regions of the country live in terror of attacks by jihadist groups and criminal groups known as “bandits,” who loot villages and kill or kidnap their inhabitants.
Source: TSF
