More than 60 killed in central Nigeria attacks in two weeks: official

More than 60 people have been reportedly killed in attacks by gunmen in Nigeria's central state of Plateau in the last two weeks, an official said on Friday.

Hundreds of gunmen raided communities in Barkin Ladi, a local district in the state, during the two weeks, setting fire to houses, killing and injuring residents, said district official Emmanuel Loman.

He said suspected Boko Haram gunmen stormed two villages on Wednesday, leaving 26 dead.

In Ropp village, nine residents were burnt to death inside a room where they were hiding, he said, noting the brutal attackers surrounded the village, preventing the villagers from escaping.

Loman blamed the authorities for taking no action to protect the local residents.

"These killings are becoming too much and we have been shouting on top of our voices but the appropriate authorities paid deaf ears to our cries," the local official said.

Last week, Plateau state governor, Jonah Jang, imposed a dusk- to-dawn curfew in the region.

However, assailants still found their ways to enter the villages at night and carried out their dastardly acts, said local resident Simon Keghu. Endi