33 dead in Nigerian ethnic attack

At least 33 people were killed in an ethnic attack in central Nigeria's Plateau state, local newspaper This Day said Friday.

Suspected gunmen from neighbouring Niger attacked three villages of the Tarok clan in Plateau's Langtang South area, shooting residents in their homes and setting more than 100 homes on fire, witnesses told the newspaper.

Children and elderly people were among the dead.

"We cannot know the actual number of people who lost their lives as we are still picking dead bodies from the bush. The attackers followed the victims on motorcycles and were killing them mercilessly as they tried to escape," said reverend Nandip Miri.