Gunmen attacked a university community in Nigeria’s central Plateau state on Sunday night, killing ​at least 13 people, residents and local officials ‌said, the latest violence in a region long plagued by deadly farmer-herder conflicts.

Violence in central Nigeria, also known as Middle ​Belt, is often painted as ethno-religious between ​mainly Muslim Fulani herders and Christian farmers. But ⁠many experts and politicians say climate change and expanding ​agriculture are creating competition for land, leading to conflict, ​regardless of faith or ethnicity.

Residents said the gunmen arrived in the Gari Ya Waye community of Angwan Rukuba district and ​shot at people indiscriminately.

The Plateau state government said the ​gunmen were unknown and imposed a 48-hour curfew in the district. ‌The ⁠University of Jos suspended examinations due to start on Monday.

“People were here in the evening and unfortunately, wicked terrorists came and attacked our people. We have ​counted scores of ​people who ⁠are now dead and then so many others are also in the hospital ​receiving treatment,” said Paul Mancha, a resident ​and ⁠chairperson of the youth council in Plateau.

United States President Donald Trump last November redesignated Nigeria “a country of particular concern” saying ⁠Christians ​were being targeted and authorities ​were failing to protect them, which the Nigerian government denies.

–Reuters–