Three people were killed and several others injured after gunmen opened fire at a busy cash-crop market in Mangu town, Plateau State, on Friday night.
The attack occurred at about 8:30 p.m. in Mangu LGA as traders and buyers prepared to close for the day. Residents said the gunfire triggered panic, with traders and passersby fleeing in different directions.
The President of the Mwaghavul Development Association (MDA), Bulus Dabit, confirmed the incident and said the attackers fled immediately after the shooting. According to Dabit, the victims included two women and a young man. Their identities had not been established at the time of the report.
“At about 8 p.m. on Friday, gunmen shot several times at a vehicle leaving the vegetable market in Mangu, killing two women and a young man,” he said.
Dabit added that several passersby sustained serious injuries and were referred to the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) for treatment.
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The MDA president expressed concern that the attack occurred despite the recent deployment of hundreds of soldiers to the area. The deployment followed attacks in parts of Mangu LGA last month that left several people dead.
Dabit called on security agencies to strengthen intelligence gathering and make greater use of technology to identify and track suspected attackers before further violence occurs.
Following the incident, Mangu town was reportedly largely deserted, while security personnel patrolled the area.
