160 people in Central Nigeria reportedly killed in bandit attacks

When a military unit was deployed to stop the fighting between Christian and Muslim ethnic groups heads to a troubled spot in Jos, Plateau State on April 2, 2011. [AFP]

Armed groups have killed at least 160 people in central Nigeria in a series of attacks on villages, local government officials said Monday.

The toll marked a sharp rise from the initial figure reported by the army Sunday evening of just 16 dead in a region plagued for several years by religious and ethnic tensions.