Abuja: At least 17 people have been killed by Fulani herdsmen in Riyom local government area of Nigeria`s northern state of Plateau.
A villager told a news agency on phone that the highest number of deaths was recorded in Sop village where more than eight persons were killed overnight by unknown assailants.
But police spokesman for the state Emmanuel Abuh said his men counted only six bodies in the whole of Riyom.
The villager said a similar attack had left three others dead in Barkin Ladi, a day earlier.
Violence in Plateau state which takes ethnic and religious colouration has claimed hundreds of lives.
Migrant Fulani herdsmen who are mostly Muslims are usually accused of initiating attacks against the Christian Berom ethnic people known as indigenes of the state.
PTI
