22 killed in Nigeria attack

At least 22 people were Thursday found dead in an attack in Nigeria's Plateau state, a security source said.

The security source, who declined to be named, told Xinhua that he counted 22 bodies with over 10 houses razed down by attackers at Mavo in Wase local government area of southern part of the state.

He said the gunmen stormed the villages at about 2 a.m. Thursday.

Police commissioner in charge of the state Chris Olakep confirmed the attack, but denied knowledge of the number of casualties.

"I have not been fully briefed of the number of death in the incident," he said.

The Wase killing came barely 48 hours after gunmen attacked some communities in Riyom area of the state killing more than 20 people.

Plateau state is located in Nigeria's middle belt where the Muslim-dominated north and the Christian-majority south meet. It has seen years of ethnic tensions and is a major potential flashpoint ahead of the April presidential election.