Gunmen kill eight including police chief in Nigeria

Gunmen in north central Nigeria have killed eight people, including a divisional police chief, Reuters agency reported, citing police and a security source source on Wednesday.

This is the latest violence ahead of a presidential and parliamentary election later this month.

Insecurity is a big issue for voters in this country where armed gangs terrorise people in villages and on highways and carry out kidnappings for ransom.

Police in Benue state responded to a distress call after gunmen blocked the Markudi-Naka road, forcing travellers to flee, Benue state police spokesperson Anene Sewuese Catherine said.