ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) – At least 20 people were killed in a shooting in a village in central Nigeria, local authorities said Wednesday.
State Councilor Dewan Gabriel said in a statement that the attack occurred in the early hours of Tuesday in Tahos, in the Dawn Local Government area of Plateau State.
Graphic videos and photos on social media platforms show that the body appeared to be a corpse after the attack and burned the house.
Sati Shuwa, a local elected official in charge of the area, said the attackers were not present by security personnel when they burned the house during the attack with guns and machetes.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for murder, but such attacks were common in northern Nigeria where local herders and farmers often clashed on limited land and water. Prolonged conflicts have become even more deadly in recent years, with authorities and analysts warning that more herders are carrying weapons.
Last month, the gunmen killed at least 150 people in the neighboring state of Benu.
“In the Leshan area, attacks in local government areas have become shocking, creating a state of fear and insecurity that must be addressed urgently,” Gabriel said.
He acknowledged the efforts of the government and security agencies but called for a change in tactics to effectively resolve the situation.
