Suspected gunmen kill five in Plateau market attack

Gunmen have attacked a vegetable market in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, killing five people and injuring several others.
The attack happened at about 8:45 p.m. on Friday as traders were preparing to close for the day.

A survivor claimed the attackers opened fire randomly, sending traders and other people at the market running in different directions.

He said the attack lasted about 20 minutes, leaving several people injured.

“The unfortunate incident caused a pandemonium in Mangu town as people could not come out of their hiding even when the gunmen had gone. Five persons were killed and many were injured,” he said.

The President of the Mwaghavul Development Association (MDA), Deacon Bulus Dabit, confirmed the attack.

Dabit said the gunmen also fired at vehicles leaving the vegetable market.

He said the identities of those killed were not yet known, while several injured passers-by were receiving treatment at the Jos University Teaching Hospital.

“Around 8:30 p.m. on Friday, gunmen shot several times at a vehicle leaving the vegetable market in Mangu.

“The names of the victims are not known yet. Several passers-by were injured and are being treated at the Jos University Teaching Hospital.”

The attack happened hours after the MDA raised concerns over continued threats to communities in Mangu. The group claimed that more than 750 Mwaghavul people had been killed since 2023.