LAGOS -- At least 36 internally displaced persons (IDPs) have been killed in an attack by gunmen in central Nigeria's state of Benue, an official confirmed Sunday.

State Governor Samuel Ortom confirmed the attack, which took place Friday, in the Guma local government area of the state.

The victims are internally displaced persons taking refuge at a primary school, he said, adding the perpetrators of the attacks were known and must be fished out.

The state has witnessed a spate of violence for the past few months, leading to mass deaths and kidnappings.