Hommam Al Nassim 
Nigerian authorities say 40 people have been killed and others injured in an armed attack on the central region of the country.
Moussa Ibrahim al-Shams, the media commissioner of the local government, said gunmen on motorcycles carried out the attack in the Wase district of Plateau state, which is known for its long land and mining struggles, as well as sectarian violence.
Al-Shams said in a press statement on Monday evening that “gunmen stormed the village of Zorak and fired sporadically and burned a number of houses.”
The attack killed about 40 people, al-Shams said, stressing that Zorak is a popular mining area.
Local al-Shabaab leader Shafei Sambo said the death toll was at least 42 as a result of the raid carried out by militants in the area.
The Wassi region contains deposits rich in zinc and lead, while the state of Plateau is famous for its tin mining industry.
Plateau State is located in an area of constant tension between Nigeria’s Muslim north and Christian south, and the state frequently sees violence between herders and farmers.
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