At least 26 people were killed and an unknown number were wounded when gunmen opened fire at a student residence in northeastern Nigeria today, emergency services and a security source said.
The attack took place at the Federal Polytechnic Mubi in Adamawa state which, like much of the north, has been targeted by Islamist insurgents.
Police were also looking at whether the killings might have been part of an internal political feud at the college.
The Boko Haram Islamist sect, which usually targets politicians or security forces, has also in the past attacked students, and has cells in Adamawa.
National Emergency Management Agency spokesman Yushua Shuaib said it was not clear whether the attack was carried out by Boko Haram or whether it was related to a dispute between rival political groups at the college.
He said police were investigating the possibility the shootings were prompted by a fallout between rival gangs over a student union election on Sunday.
"They think the ones who were disgruntled might have been the ones who were doing the attack," he said.
A security source confirmed this possibility was being investigated, adding that security forces had raided the residence over the weekend, arrested some students and seized a number of weapons.
Reuters