The death toll from an attack last week by gunmen in northwestern Nigeria has doubled to more than 130, the Kaduna state governor said on Tuesday, adding it appeared to have been a deliberate plan to “wipe out certain communities.”
He said the 66 victims earlier reported in the media should be disregarded.
According to him, the latest figure is contained in a report provided through an on-going investigation by the Nigeria police.
While briefing State House correspondents after an emergency security meeting summoned by President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, he said: “Now, what we are hearing, the last report we got is that over 130 people were killed not even 66.”
“And the Fulani leaders are providing the names of all these people, we have the list and we will release it to the press. “
Governor Nasir el-Rufai did not elaborate on what he meant. Those killed in last week’s attack were mainly from the Fulani ethnic group, who are usually Muslim and have been involved in clashes in recent years with people from the Adara ethnic group, who are predominantly Christian.
Locals said the attack took place on Monday last week, although initial reports suggested it took place later in the week.
It was first announced late on Friday – the day before Nigeria was supposed to hold a presidential election, but electoral authorities delayed the vote by a week, citing logistical challenges.
Local residents said last week that the attack was a reprisal for violence in October.
“They invaded our settlement, killed men, women and children and set our houses ablaze,” said Usman Kafara, who survived last week’s attack.
“The Adaras were on reprisal mission over the killings of 11 of their people.”
Some 55 people were killed in October during what residents said were clashes between Muslims and Christians in the Kasuwan Magani area of Kajuru – the same local government area in which last week’s attack took place.