Unknown assailants broke into two villages in the Bassa district of Plateau state (central Nigeria) the day before, killing 51 people and stealing their livestock, according to the report released by authorities.

This incident is a repeat of a similar one in the same area a week ago, leaving 52 dead.

Dozens of people were injured in the attack, and several homes were destroyed by the assailants, the official statement added.

Initial speculation pointed to an action by the Islamist armed group Boko Haram, which has increased its attacks in recent weeks and was blamed for a dynamite attack on a passenger bus last weekend, but the report implicitly refuted these speculations.

In addition to a conflict in the southern Niger River Delta, where residents are demanding a greater share of the profits from the oil extracted in the area, Nigeria faces the actions of Islamists in the northeast and armed gangs in the north, who frequently attack unarmed civilians.

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