Several dead as gunmen invade yam market in Benue
No fewer than 16 persons were reportedly killed when unknown gunmen raided the Zaki Biam yam market in Benue state on Monday evening.
The market is believed to be the largest yam market in West Africa.
Eyewitnesses say the gunmen arrived on motorcycles and started shooting sporadically.
“Innocent Nigerians” were reportedly “gunned down in broad daylight.”
“The assailants came on 12 bikes and 4 cars. And none was apprehended. Nobody knows the reason for the attack,” one witness said.
Another witness, Udofia, said “there’s been series of missing yams in that market for some weeks now. The market has been on temporary closure for days.”
Residents lament the level of insecurity in the area and called the attack “a terrorist act”.
It was still unclear what provoked the attack.
