At least five people were confirmed killed, while scores of others were seriously injured following an attack by gunmen at the popular Friday market in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The President of the Mwaghavul Development Association (MDA), Bulus Dabit, who confirmed the attack, said it occurred at about 8:30 p.m. on Friday when the gunmen stormed the market and fired sporadically at traders and customers, leaving two women and a young man dead on the spot, while two other victims later died in a nearby hospital.
“The gunmen stormed the market at about 8 p.m. on Friday. They shot several times at a vehicle leaving the vegetable market in Mangu, killing two women and a young man on the spot. Two others died later while receiving treatment in a hospital.
“Several passers-by were seriously injured and are being referred to the Jos University Teaching Hospital for treatment,” Dabit said.
An eyewitness, Anointed Inusa, who spoke to DAILY POST on Saturday morning, said the assailants were armed with sophisticated weapons and shot sporadically for over 10 minutes.
“They carried sophisticated weapons and shot seriously for about 10 minutes. Several people were seriously injured.
“The sudden shooting created panic at the market, with people running in different directions in an attempt to escape, resulting in more people sustaining injuries,” Inusa said.
Another witness, Manji Ezekiel, said that immediately after the attackers stormed the market area, they began shooting indiscriminately, sending hundreds of people fleeing in panic and abandoning their goods.
“It was like a scene in a war movie. Immediately, the gunmen arrived, they started shooting in every direction. It was chaotic as people ran in all directions to stay safe. Three people were killed on the spot, while many others were injured.
“Everyone was preparing to leave for their various homes after the day’s business when the gunmen entered the market and started shooting. People ran for their lives and left everything behind,” he said.
Also condemning the attack, MDA Director of Public Affairs, Friday Derwam, urged security agencies to deploy intelligence and technology to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.
“Security agencies must leverage intelligence and technology to apprehend the perpetrators of these dastardly acts, as they would not be far from the scene of the crime,” he said.
Derwam further lamented that the attack came only hours after the MDA raised concerns over continued threats to communities in Mangu, claiming that more than 750 Mwaghavul people had been killed in attacks since 2023.
Gunmen attack popular Mangu market, kill five, injure scores