Gunmen attacked a village in Nigeria’s central Benue State on Sunday, leaving several people dead, according to officials and local residents.

State government spokesperson Tersoo Kula confirmed that the attack took place in the village of Mbalom in the Gwer East area, noting that there were casualties but no confirmed death toll yet.

However, a local resident, Tersir Ngutor, said that 17 people were killed in the attack, a figure also reported by another resident, Gbadi John, who added that several others were injured.

Ngutor said the attackers arrived around 5 p.m. on Saturday and opened fire indiscriminately before leaving, after which residents began searching for their loved ones.

Benue State lies in a region plagued by recurring violence between farmers and herders over land and natural resources, as well as criminal activities by armed groups known locally as “bandits,” who are involved in kidnappings for ransom.