At least 14 villagers were killed and several others injured in an attack in Nigeria's Benue state on Tuesday, a local official said.

Benue has experienced protracted conflict between farmers and herders, with hundreds of people killed in recent years, as farmers attack the cattle that destroy crops and herders attacking the villages.

The latest attack occurred in Efeyi village in Benue state's Otukpo area early on Tuesday, with gunmen killing 14 people and wounded several others, Otukpo council chairperson Maxwell Ogiri told Reuters.

Ogiri blamed the attack on the Fulani herders. Fulani associations have, however, rejected such accusations of attacks in the past. No group claimed responsibility.

Benue police spokesperson Udeme Edet said officers had been deployed to the affected area and an investigation was under way.