5 killed as gunmen open fire on traders at a Friday market in Nigeria

Five people were killed and two others sustained critical injuries when gunmen opened fire on traders and shoppers at the bustling Friday market in Mangu town, Mangu Local Government Area (LGA), Plateau State, at approximately 8:30 p.m. local time (19:30 GMT) on Thursday, September 18, 2026.

Witnesses said the assailants stormed the section of the market known for perishable goods just as vendors were packing up for the day, firing indiscriminately and sending hundreds fleeing in panic. Victims were struck primarily in the abdomen and lower limbs as they attempted to escape the chaos, local sources reported.

The two critically injured victims were rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment, while community volunteers and emergency responders worked to secure the area and support affected families.

The Mwaghavul Development Association (MDA), a local community group, confirmed the attack. MDA President Bulus Dabit initially told reporters that gunmen fired on a vehicle leaving the vegetable market, killing two women and a young man, with several passers-by seriously injured and referred to Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH). Later reports from ThisDay Live and other outlets revised the death toll to five, with two in critical condition.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and security agencies have yet to release an official statement. The incident marks another escalation in a wave of violence across Mangu LGA in recent weeks, during which local leaders allege more than two dozen residents have been killed.

Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu visited Plateau State earlier in the week, vowing to intensify operations to apprehend those behind the recent killings and restore security in the region.

Plateau State has experienced a surge in targeted attacks on markets and villages in September 2026, with security analysts and community leaders pointing to armed militias operating in the area. The Mangu area, in particular, has seen multiple deadly incidents in the past two weeks, including shootings, arson, and abductions.

Local advocacy groups have called for an independent security investigation and greater deployment of intelligence and technology to identify and apprehend perpetrators.