Gunmen burn houses, animals in Plateau State again

Witnesses and survivors on Monday described how gunmen attacked a village in central Nigeria, burning houses and animals in the latest outbreak of violence blamed on long-standing ethnic divisions.

It was not immediately clear how many people were killed in the incident in Shonong village in the Riyom area of Plateau state, which along with neighbouring Kaduna has been plagued by communal strife.

Local people said at least 30 died, many of them women and children, and at least 25 others were injured but police put the toll at five.

State police chief Chris Olakpe confirmed the attack, which reportedly began at about 07:00, and that investigations were ongoing.

"We have it on record that five people were killed and many houses were burnt in the attack," he told AFP.

Witnesses said more than 40 houses were burnt while domestic animals were either killed or taken away by the perpetrators, suspected to be Hausa-Fulani herdsmen.