Gunmen have killed at least 14 people in separate attacks on two villages in central Nigeria's Plateau state, a Red Cross official told AFP on Wednesday.

The state and the wider central Nigeria region has for years suffered clashes between farmers and herders over dwindling land, as well as attacks from armed groups widely described as "bandits."

The Red Cross secretary in Plateau, Nurudeen Hassan Magaji, said the attack late on Tuesday killed 12 people, including four women, in Rachas Yelwa, a village in the Barkin Ladi district.

He added that two other people were killed in a separate attack in the village of Rawuru.

'Deeply regrettable attacks'

Barkin Ladi council chairperson Stephen Pwajok called the attacks "unfortunate, unprovoked and deeply regrettable."

"The two attacks that killed 14 people are unacceptable," he added.