Christmas Eve attack in Nigeria leaves at least 140 people dead, homes burned

 The attack in Plateau state is the bloodiest violence in Nigeria since 2018, when more than 200 people were killed during clashes between farmers and herders.

Nomadic herdsmen in Nigeria killed at least 140 people during violence in 15 villages on Christmas Eve, according to media reports.

The hours-long attacks took place in the country's central Plateau state as suspected nomadic herders used firearms and machetes on their victims, Reuters reports.

“As I am speaking to you, in Mangu local governorate alone, we have buried 15 people. As of this morning, in Bokos, we are counting no less than 100 corpses. I am still yet to hear the (deaths) in Barkin Ladi are yet to be assessed," Plateau Governor Caleb Mutfuwang said in a broadcast on local channel television. "It's been a pretty scary Christmas for us here in the Plateau."

The violence was the bloodiest in the country since 2018, when more than 200 people were killed in clashes between farmers and herders.

"We returned at 6 a.m. the next morning and found that houses had been burned and people were dead," Grace Godwin told the news outlet. "There are still people missing."

It is not clear what triggered the violence, but the region, known as the "Middle Belt," is often characterized by clashes between predominantly Muslim Fulani herders and predominantly Christian farmers, Reuters he said.

Some locals said it took more than 12 hours for security agencies to respond to their calls for help.

No group claimed responsibility for the attacks, although blame fell on herders from the Fulani tribe, who have been accused of carrying out such mass killings in the northwest and central regions, where access to land and water has been contested for decades. The ongoing conflict has further worsened communalism. The divide between Christians and Muslims in Africa's most populous country.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said the violence was "unprovoked" and directed police to find those responsible.

Officials said houses, cars and motorcycles were also found burnt.