By: TPA News Desk | editor@thepointafricanews.com

At least 13 people were killed late Thursday night in an attack by unidentified armed militants in Plateau State, Nigeria, according to multiple local sources. Most of the victims were children and elderly residents. The assault occurred in the Koghom community of Mangu Local Government Area, a region that has been plagued by escalating violence over land disputes and ethnic tensions.

The killings were first reported by Channels TV and have since been corroborated by local security officials and community leaders. Residents say the attackers struck while villagers were asleep, shooting indiscriminately and setting homes ablaze. Eyewitnesses described a harrowing scene of families caught off guard, with some victims burned inside their houses.

Security forces were dispatched to the area, but locals claim they arrived too late to stop the violence. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and the identities of the assailants remain unknown.

This is the latest in a string of deadly assaults in Nigeria’s volatile Middle Belt region, where tensions between farming communities and nomadic herders have often erupted into violence. Human rights observers note that such attacks are increasingly carried out by organized, heavily armed groups operating with impunity.

Government officials in Plateau State condemned the killings and promised a full investigation. National security agencies have yet to release an official statement on the latest violence, but senior police and military personnel are reportedly assessing the situation on the ground.

Although there have been social media reports claiming higher casualty numbers—some citing as many as 50 or more deaths—these figures have not been independently verified and appear to conflate this incident with earlier attacks in the region. Analysts caution against the spread of misinformation, noting that the figures tied to this specific attack currently stand at 13 confirmed deaths.

The Plateau State attack follows similar violence in neighboring Benue State earlier this month, where armed groups killed dozens in a separate incident. As regional insecurity continues to rise, many in the affected communities are calling for increased protection, better intelligence gathering, and stronger action from the federal government.