By IANS,
Jos (Nigeria): At least 90 people have been killed in attacks on villages in Nigeria’s Plateau state, security sources said Monday.
The attacks took place in villages in Gashik district of the Barkinladi local government area.
In a brief text message to Xinhua, security sources said 50 burnt bodies were uncovered in the early hours of Sunday in Matsai village.
Xinhua’s reporters in the restive city of Jos said 20 people were killed Sunday afternoon at the mass burial site of victims of Saturday’s attack, including a serving Senator, Gyang Dantong, representing Plateau north and the majority leader of the State House of Assembly, Gyang Fulani.
Before he was killed on Sunday, Fulani told Xinhua Saturday that at least 20 people were killed Friday night in Barkinladi by yet to be identified gunmen, who invaded nine villages.
“Dantong, Fulani and other unidentified officials were all murdered today during a mass burial for scores of people killed by unknown gunmen,” the security source said.
Dan Manjan, a legislative aide to the senator, who escaped the attack said scores of injured victims are still receiving treatment in hospitals across the state.
A Xinhua reporter said the Berom people living in Jos have taken over major roads in the state.
Plateau state is situated in Nigeria’s middle belt where the Muslim-dominated north and the Christian-majority south meet. It has seen years of ethnic tensions and is a major potential flashpoint ahead of the April presidential elections.