At least 18 people were killed and dozens of homes set on fire Tuesday night during an attack on a village in central Nigeria, according to the testimony of a resident and community leader.
Authorities have confirmed that an attack was carried out in the village of Anca, in the state of Plato, citing several dead, but without giving a more specific account to the public.
“Our village was attacked at night and we are counting 18 dead,” Deacon Ota, a resident of the community, told AFP by telephone.
“I participated in the transportation of the bodies. “Many other people were injured in the attack and are being treated at the community clinic,” he added.
Davidson Malison, head of the Irigue area cooperative, which includes the village of Ancha, also said “18 people were killed”, adding that “six others were injured” in the attack.
In a statement, it also stated that 24 houses and several cars were set on fire.
He accused nomadic Pell cattle breeders of attacking members of the Iriguez community. But a local Pell union condemned the attack and denied the allegations.
“It is really problematic that every time the Irigues are attacked or killed, they accuse us so quickly,” said Muhammad Nourou Abdallah, according to a statement released by the Pell Union.
The governor of Plato, Simon Bako Lalong, said the attack had “killed many people”, condemning the “endless cycle of violent attacks” in the region.
The Nigerian army assured that its forces were deployed in the village, but the perpetrators had left hours before their arrival. “Houses were destroyed and villagers lost their lives,” he said.
The attack was compounded by a long series of bloody clashes between Muslim breeders and Christian farmers in central Nigeria, which has been the scene of years of bloody clashes over access to land, water and pastures.
However, according to local officials, the most recent attacks are the work of criminal gangs, which authorities generally refer to as bandits – “gang elements” or “gangsters” – and which are ravaging areas of northern and central Nigeria rather than actions due to disputes over natural resources, or of a religious nature.
In August, 23 Muslim travelers were killed in Plato when their bus was attacked on the outskirts of the state capital, Joshua.
State police said at the time that young people belonging to the Irigueau community had committed the attack, but representatives denied the allegations.
One week later, gunmen attacked a predominantly Christian village, always on the outskirts of Josh, killing 18 people.
Follow Skai.gr on Google News
and be the first to know all the news
.