23 killed in Nigeria preplanned attack
Nigerian authorities say an attack on a convoy of 90 Muslims in Nigeria's central Plateau state was a premeditated ambush for which suspects have already been arrested.
A suspected Christian militia attacked a convoy of 90 Muslims on Saturday in Nigeria's central Plateau state, leaving at least 23 people dead, police said.
In a statement, President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday condemned Saturday's ambush in central Plateau state buses returning from a religious festival in nearby Bauchi state.
Northwest and central Nigeria have for years struggled with violence between mainly Muslim nomadic herders and Christian farmers over control of resources, water and land.
Police said they received a distress call during the morning that "a group of attackers suspected to be Irigwe youths (predominantly Christian)... attacked a convoy of five buses with Muslim faithful". The Muslims were returning from Bauchi State, after attending an event to celebrate the Islamic New Year.
"It is very unfortunate, that we have this ugly incident, at which innocent travellers, are intercepted, attacked as a result of which 25 people are now confirmed killed," said state government official Danladi Atu. He said efforts were underway to rescue those still missing.
Plateau state governor Simon Lalong also condemned the attack. He said "security has been beefed up around the area".
Police said six suspects had been arrested and calm restored to the area.
For years, Jos was a flashpoint for ethnic strife pitting Christian and Muslim youths against each other.
In September 2001, Christian-Muslim clashes around Jos left 913 people dead, according to Human Rights Watch.
The violence is just one of the challenges facing President Muhammadu Buhari's security forces.
Africa's most populous nation is also battling a 12-year insurgency in the northeast, kidnap gangs in the northwest and separatist agitation in the southeast.
