Fresh attack claims 22 lives in central Nigeria

At least 22 persons were Thursday morning found dead in an attack that took place in central north Nigeria's Plateau State, a competent security source told Xinhua. The security source, who declined to be named, told Xinhua that he counted 22 dead bodies with over 10 houses razed down by this attackers at Mavo in Wase local government area of southern part of the state. He said the gunmen stormed the villages at about 2 a.m, local time on Thursday. Police commissioner in charge of the state Chris Olakep confirmed the attack, but denied knowledge of the number of casualties. "I have not been fully briefed of the number of death in the incident," he told Xinhua. A Xinhua reporter in the state said the development created tension in Wase council headquarters, as youth of the community went on rampage, protesting the killings. The Wase killing came barely 48 hours when gunmen attacked some communities in Riyom area of the state killing more than 20 persons. 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.