Bamako, Feb 16 (IANS): The death toll from Friday's attack on the Fulani village of Ogossagou in central Mali increased to 31, Malian Prime Minister Boubou Cisse has confirmed.

"As efforts to deploy our FAMa (Malian Armed Forces) throughout the country continue and acts of adherence to peace have multiplied in different localities, Ogossagou has suffered a new deadly attack killing 31 people," he said on his social media account on Saturday, sending condolences to the victims' families.

However, according to some independent sources, the death toll should be at least 48, as other bodies have been found and there are at least five pregnant women among the victims, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to the sources, many villagers feared this attack would happen and left the village the night before the attack to hide in the bushes, which explained why the toll was much lower than the 157 dead during previous attack in March 2019.

Many observers believe that the attack, carried out by around 30 gunmen, was due to the withdrawal of the Malian army from the area.