Nigeria: 21 people killed by gunmen

Gunmen killed 21 people in a random attack on a busy market in Niger State, northwest Nigeria, according to reports.

More than a dozen gunmen stormed the Madaka market in Rafi local government area at the height of commercial activities, and opened fire at random, according to Ayuba Katako, head of the local government.

“The local authorities were taking steps to determine the total number of casualties as they did not yet have full details of the incident,” he said.

“21 people had been killed and the gunmen had also looted stores,” according to a local barbecue operator and survivor.

Attacks by gunmen on communities and schools have recently increased in Nigeria, against a backdrop of economic hardship.