The true scale of the massacre committed by terrorists in Plateau communities at the weekend has emerged, with at least 80 people killed.
Some reports said between 78 and 100 people were given mass burial on Monday.
There has been no official toll of the dead yet to verify the casualty figures.
The villages, which were attacked on Sunday, included Kukawa, Gyambawu, Dungur, Kyaram, Yelwa, Dadda, Wanka, Shuwaka, Gwammadaji, and Dadin Kowa.
In one village in Kanam Local government area, 38 people were killed.
Dozens were also abducted by the gunmen, in the latest in a spate of attacks by armed gangs in northern parts of Nigeria.
“This is again very sad and we strongly condemn it. The security (forces) should ensure the immediate rescue of all abducted persons,” said Jonathan Ishaku, spokesman for Plateau Elders Forum.
He said at least 50 were dead and 70 people, including women and children, were kidnapped from nine villages late on Sunday afternoon.
A spokesman for Plateau Governor Simon Lalong said “many people were killed with houses and properties destroyed”.
He did not give a death toll.
Ishaya Solomon from Kukawa, one of the villages that was attacked, said when he heard shooting he fled with his family in a car and returned at night after the gunmen had left.
His house and several others had been torched while shops were looted and villagers were retrieving bodies of relatives.
“In our community … 38 people were killed. Many of our houses were burnt to ashes, many shops were looted,” said Solomon.
