Gunmen have attacked a busy cash-crop market in Mangu town, Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, killing three people and injuring several others.
The attack occurred on Friday night at about 8:30 p.m., when traders and customers were preparing to close for the day.
Residents said the gunmen opened fire on a vehicle leaving the vegetable market, sending traders, customers and passersby into panic as they fled in different directions.
The President of the Mwaghavul Development Association (MDA), Bulus Dabit, confirmed the incident, saying the victims included two women and a young man.
He said the identities of those killed had not been established at the time of the report, while several injured persons were taken to the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) for treatment.
“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. The names of the victims are not known yet. Several passersby were seriously injured and were referred to the Jos University Teaching Hospital for treatment,” Dabit said.
According to him, the attackers fled immediately after the shooting.
Dabit expressed concern that the attack occurred despite the recent deployment of hundreds of soldiers to the area following deadly attacks in parts of Mangu Local Government Area last month.
He urged security agencies to intensify surveillance and intelligence gathering, including the use of technology to identify and track suspected attackers before they launch further assaults.
The MDA president called for stronger security measures to protect residents, traders and other members of the public in the area.
Following the attack, Mangu town was reportedly largely deserted, while security personnel conducted patrols in an effort to restore calm and maintain law and order.
The latest incident has renewed concerns over security in Mangu and the safety of residents and businesses operating in the local government area.
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