Officials put death toll more than 400 ; others put figure as high as 500 . Reports of the attack described the assailants as members of the Muslim Hausa-Fulani ethnic group , Pampe and government spokesman Gregory Yenlong said . Predominantly Christian , attacked with machetes , buildings set on fire . Police describe attackers as members of Islamic Hausa - speaking ethnic group . Nigeria has seen other religious , ethnic violence , including deadly attacks on Muslims .
Officials put death toll more than 400 ; others put figure as high as 500 . Predominantly Christian , attacked with machetes , buildings set on fire . Police describe attackers as members of Islamic Hausa - speaking ethnic group . Nigeria has seen other religious , ethnic violence , including deadly attacks on Muslims .