Taroh community in Plateau state has being thrown into commotion as Fulani herdsmen reportedly clashed with indigenes of three villages in the town, killing at least 28 residents.
There are however conflicting reports on the casualty figures following the pre-dawn attack on Thursday by suspected Fulani gunmen on Magama, Bongon and Karkashi villages of Langtang south local government area of Plateau state, north central Nigeria.
The Special Task Force, Operation Safe Haven, maintaining peace in the state, through the media officer, Captain Salisu Mustapha, claimed that about 28 persons were killed during the attack.
He added that about 10 of the assailants were killed by officers of the task force in a gun duel while some sustained gunshot wounds and were subsequently arrested.
However, the police while briefing the press on the situation in the southern part of the state through the Police commissioner, Chris Olakpe, claim that only 10 persons died during the attack and wondered where the reported figures emanated from.
The Fulani herdsmen are alleged to have carried out the attack on the Taroh after hundreds of their cattle were stolen.
Two villages in a nearby Fulani and Hausa community were subsequently burnt and the residents had fled.
But an attack of such ferocity is unusual in the remote area, which is about 240km (150 miles) south of Jos, Mustapha says.
A Fulani spokesman in the area denied the military’s allegations that the mainly Muslim community was involved in the attack.
Salihu Jauro said that about 1,000 head of cattle had been stolen earlier this week from Fulani herdsmen and repeated complaints to the authorities had failed to elicit help.