Gunmen have attacked a local market in Plateau state killing at least eight people and injuring a number of others.
The raid happened on Sunday evening in the village of Pinau, in Wase area, where people had gathered for the weekly market.
The leader of a youth association in the area, Shafi’i Sambo, told the BBC that 12 people were shot dead during the attack including nine in the market and three others elsewhere in the village.
He says the victims included men, children and a woman.
But the chairman of Wase local government area Ado Abubakar Buba told journalists that eight people were killed, adding that, more security personnel had been deployed to the area after the killings.
It’s not yet clear who carried out the attack but armed criminal gangs locally referred to as “bandits” have stepped up attacks in the country, carrying out killings and kidnappings for ransom.
Reports indicate that the area has witnessed a number of kidnappings for ransom recently.
President Muhammadu Buhari’s government is under increasing pressure to do more to end the worsening violence.
