At least 20 civilians, mostly students, have been killed at a college dormitory in Nigeria's northeastern state of Adamawa.

The incident took place on Tuesday at the Federal Polytechnic College in the town of Mubi.

"Fifteen are injured and are being taken to the hospital... The military has taken over control of the area," a Mubi official said on the condition of anonymity.

According to police spokesman Mohammed Ibrahim, the victims were called by name before being shot dead. He added that some of the victims' throats were slit.

"Once the target identified himself he would be shot dead. We strongly suspect an inside operation," Ibrahim said.

The government has placed the town under an indefinite curfew, ordering residents to stay indoors.

Campus officials say the shooting took place as student elections were being held.

The deadly attack comes days after the Nigerian army launched a major operation against the extremist Boko Haram militant group in the northeastern town.

Although no group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, authorities usually hold the Boko Haram responsible for such instances of violence.


The militant group has claimed responsibility for a number of deadly gun and bomb attacks against churches in various parts of Nigeria.

The group has also attacked Muslim figures as well as a range of other targets, including the United Nations building in the capital Abuja during the previous months.

Human rights groups report that violent actions by Boko Haram since mid-2009 have claimed more than 1,000 lives, including over 300 this year alone.

Press TV