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A fierce gun battle broke out early morning on Sunday in Bokkos district, Plateau state, between police and armed attackers. The battle left 20 people dead, with 18 killed at the scene and 2 later in the hospital.

Police in Nigeria's central Plateau state said on Tuesday that the attack had claimed 20 lives. The attack, which occurred on Sunday, has been described as a communal attack. The Plateau police spokesperson, Alfred Alabo, said officers working with other security agencies engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle.

The attackers fled after the gun battle, according to Alabo. He said additional deployments have been ordered to the area, including more tactical and mobile police units.

Eighteen people were killed at the scene, and two died later in the hospital, Alabo said. Plateau police commissioner Bassey Ewah has ordered additional deployments to the area, including more tactical and mobile police units, Alabo said.

The attack is the latest in a series of communal attacks in the region. Plateau state is one of several ethnically and religiously diverse hinterland states known as the Middle Belt. The region has been plagued by communal conflict, which has claimed hundreds of lives in recent years.

In 2016, a wave of violence swept through the region, leaving over 300 people dead. The violence was sparked by a dispute over a farm, but soon escalated into ethnic and religious clashes. Since then, there have been several attacks in the region, including the attack on Sunday.

The Plateau state government has promised to work with security agencies to maintain peace in the region. But the attacks have continued, with no end in sight.

The attack on Sunday highlights the challenges facing the Nigerian government in maintaining peace and security in the country. The government has vowed to stem the attacks, but so far, it has failed to do so.

In the past, the Plateau state government has accused the federal government of not doing enough to protect the people of Plateau state. The federal government has responded by accusing the state government of not doing enough to maintain peace in the region.

The attack on Sunday raises questions about the effectiveness of the Nigerian government in maintaining peace and security in the country.

Plateau state police commissioner Bassey Ewah is a seasoned police officer with over 20 years of experience. He was appointed as the police commissioner in October last year.

The Nigeria police force has been facing several challenges, including corruption and lack of resources. Corruption has been a major issue in the police force, with several officers accused of corruption in recent years.

The police force has also faced criticism for its handling of communal clashes. In 2020, the police force was accused of using excessive force in dispersing a crowd in Lagos state.

Key Facts

• 20 people were killed in the attack • 18 people were killed at the scene • 2 people died later in the hospital • The attack occurred on Sunday morning • Additional deployments have been ordered to the area, including more tactical and mobile police units • The attack is the latest in a series of communal attacks in the region • The Middle Belt region has been plagued by communal conflict, which has claimed hundreds of lives in recent years

The attack on Sunday highlights the challenges facing the Nigerian government in maintaining peace and security in the country. The government has vowed to stem the attacks, but so far, it has failed to do so. In the past, the Plateau state government has accused the federal government of not doing enough to protect the people of Plateau state.