SW News: At least 20 people, mostly women and children, were killed and several houses burned by armed attackers in a village in Nigeria's central Plateau state, a state official said. Reuters reports that Plateau is one of the several Nigerian states where violent conflicts between farmers and herders have claimed the lives of hundreds of people. It is the most recent in the series of violent crimes that primarily targeted rural people in the West African country.

Late Monday night, the gunmen ambushed three villages in Plateau state's Mangu local government area. According to the survivors, the armed men killed many residents with gunshots or torched their homes.

According to the residents, armed men arrived in Kubat village in the latest community unrest in the early morning hours of Tuesday. The witness says that the shooters began firing randomly, and when several residents attempted to leave, they were shot to death. A spokesperson has informed that the state governor directed security forces to pursue the attackers.

The governor described the attacks as seriously disturbing, with many women and children killed. No official death figure has been given, but local media reported more than 20 people were killed in the attacks.

In light of the alarming situation, the Plateau state government declared a 24-hour curfew in the affected areas, intending to restrict movement and ensure the safety of residents.

Nigeria has recently seen security issues fueled by the actions of extremist religious groups like Boko Haram. The security challenges have been further complicated by armed bandits responsible for raids on villages, kidnappings for ransom, and killings of civilians.