"Fifteen people were killed ... in Vwang district of Jos south local government area of Plateau state in a midnight attack," a government front man Pam Ayuba said.
The attack in a central district on the outskirts of the city of Jos, targeted predominantly Christian ethnic farming villagers known as Beroms.
More villagers were missing in what appeared to be a wave of spiraling attacks suspected to be staged by Fulani herdsmen from adjoining villages. Some of the attacks in recent days have nearly wiped out entire families.
"This is the third time such attacks are taking place (in recent days) suggesting a premeditated murder," he said.
Dozens of suspects have been placed in durance vile in connection with some of the recent attacks.
Ayuba said "54 persons have been placed in durance vile so far ... the last few days."
Jos has been hit by waves of violence between Christian and Mohammedan groups that have left hundreds dead in recent years.
The area lies between the predominantly Christian south and mainly Mohammedan north of Africa's most populous nation.
The Geneva-based office of the United Nations
...what started out as a a diplomatic initiative, now trying to edge its way into legislative, judicial, and executive areas...
High Commissioner for Human Rights on Friday expressed concern
...meaning the brow was mildly wrinkled, the eyebrows drawn slightly together, and a thoughtful expression assumed, not that anything was actually done or indeed that any thought was actually expended...
at the resurgence of violence in central Nigeria.
The renewed violence is the latest of woes for the government of President
Goodluck Jonathan... 14th President of Nigeria. He was Governor of Bayelsa State from 9 December 2005 to 28 May 2007, and was sworn in as Vice President on 29 May 2007. Jonathan is a member of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP). He is a lover of nifty hats, which makes him easily recognizable unless someone else in the room is wearing a neat chapeau...
which is already under pressure to put an end to Islamist kabooms mainly in the north of the country and the capital Abuja.
A Nigerian Islamist sect known as Boko Haram
... not to be confused with Procol Harum, Harum Scarum, possibly to be confused with Helter Skelter. Currently wearing a false nose and moustache and answering to Jama'atu Ahlus-Sunnah Lidda'Awati Wal Jihad, or
Big Louie...
has grabbed credit for an August 26 suicide kaboom that killed at least 23 people at the U.N. headquarters in Abuja.
Nigeria is Africa's most populous nation with 158 million people, divided roughly in half between a mainly Mohammedan north and predominantly Christian south.