Gunmen kill 8 in central Nigeria

By Rafiu Ajakaye

LAGOS, Nigeria

Eight people have been killed on Thursday in a gun attack allegedly by a militia linked to some herders in Nigeria’s central Plateau state, a police source said.

“We have eight deaths from early morning attack by Peul militia in Nding village of Barkin Ladi county. The attack occurred around 4.00 a.m. [0300GMT]. So many people sustained various degrees of injuries and have been taken to hospitals,” a police constable, who asked not to be named due to fears of a backlash, told Anadolu Agency.

Plateau police spokesman Tyopev Mathias Terna confirmed the attacks and casualties to Anadolu Agency, but did not give further details.

“We will get back to the media on the development in Barkin Ladi later today,” Terna told Anadolu Agency over the phone.

On Sunday, 11 people died in similar attack in Lo Pamyetti village in Jos south local government of the state -- a week after eight civilians were reportedly killed and multimillion dollar properties were destroyed in Barkin Ladi.

After two years of peace, clashes between farmers and herdsmen have erupted in the state.