Twenty persons were reportedly killed with over 10 others injured by assailants in the Heipang District of Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State in North Central Nigeria.

Channels Television reports that residents of the community said the attackers came in the early hours of Thursday and invaded the community while they were sleeping.

They reportedly stated that efforts of vigilantes in the community were not strong enough to ward off the attackers who they claimed had superior firepower against the vigilantes’ Dane guns.

According to them, the duel with the attackers resulted in the death of four of the vigilantes as they set some houses on fire, burning residents who were asleep and could not escape from the sudden attack.

It was further reported that a resident of the community who lost five relatives, including his brother, the wife and three children, said the attackers invaded the compound, set the building ablaze and killed all members of the family in their sleep.

The incident has been confirmed by the Public Relations Officer of the Plateau State Police Command, DSP Alfred Alabo, who stated that security has been reinforced in the community with personnel on the trail of the attackers.