ABUJA, July 16 (Xinhua) -- At least 27 people were killed in an attack by suspected gunmen in Plateau State in central Nigeria, which has recently witnessed increased attacks, a senior official said Wednesday.
Caleb Mutfwang, governor of Plateau, told the media during an on-the-spot assessment of the havoc in the Bindi community of Riyom local government area that aside from the casualties, the gunmen also destroyed houses, crops on farmlands, and other valuable properties during the attack early Tuesday.
The gunmen rode motorbikes into the community, firing indiscriminately at residents while also setting homes and farmlands ablaze.
"I am calling on the security agencies to redouble their efforts. We need to reappraise our strategy and tactics," the governor said, calling for a concerted effort to halt the bloodshed and wanton destruction of property.
The motive behind the latest attack remains unclear.
Plateau State, located in Nigeria's central region between the Muslim-dominated north and the Christian-majority south, has witnessed repeated attacks in recent years.
Armed attacks have been a primary security threat in Nigeria's northern and central regions, leading to deaths and kidnaps in recent months.
