91 victims killed in violence in northcentral Nigeria: Local leader

ABUJA, Nigeria (AA) - A total of 91 victims, mostly women and children, were killed in a deadly clash in Nigeria's North Central Plateau State, according to an official.

National President of the Mwaghavul Youth Movement, Sunday Dankaka, told journalists his community members buried 91 bodies of those killed in violence that erupted in Mangu Local Government Area from Jan. 22 - 23.

Dankaka said Tuesday that 42 women, 37 children and 12 men were killed.

He said 158 victims were injured and 114 houses, nine mosques and 15 churches were burned by attackers.

The death toll is the first official figure since the attack. Neither the military nor police released statements on casualties.

Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang said the violence “claimed numerous lives."

Violence erupted in the Mangu district following a clash with a group.

It escalated among community members despite a 24-hour curfew declared by the government in the area.

President Bola Tinubu condemned the violence and directed an additional deployment of security personnel to the area.