160 killed in attacks on villagers in Nigeria

ABUJA — At least 160 people have been killed in central Nigeria in a series of attacks on villages, local authorities said on Monday.

It marks a sharp rise from the initial figure of 16 deaths in a clash between herders and farmers in Mushu, a village in the Bokkos local government area.

At least 113 people have been confirmed killed with more than 300 wounded people transferred to hospitals in Bokkos, Jos, and Barkin Ladi, Monday Kassah, head of the local government in Bokkos, Plateau State, was quoted by Agence France-Presse as saying.

A provisional toll by the local Red Cross reported 104 deaths in 18 villages in the Bokkos region.

At least 50 people were reported dead in several villages in the Barkin Ladi area, according to Dickson Chollom, a member of the state parliament.

He condemned the attacks and called on the security forces to act swiftly. "We will not succumb to the tactics of these merchants of death. We are united in our pursuit of justice and lasting peace," Chollom said.

The attacks which started in the Bokkos area spilled into neighboring Barkin Ladi where 30 people were found dead, according to local chairman Danjuma Dakil.

On Sunday, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang condemned the violence, calling it "barbaric, brutal and unjustified".

"Proactive measures will be taken by the government to curb ongoing attacks against innocent civilians," said Gyang Bere, the governor's spokesperson.

Gunfire could still be heard late on Monday afternoon, AFP cited a source from the region as saying.

Markus Amorudu, a resident of Mushu village, said people were sleeping when shots rang out.

"We were scared because we weren't expecting an attack. People hid, but the assailants captured many of us, some were killed, others wounded," he told AFP.

It is the worst outbreak of violence in Plateau since May when more than 100 were killed in farmer-herder clashes.

Armed attacks have been a major security threat in Nigeria's northern and central regions, leading to deaths and kidnappings.

Agencies - Xinhua