Gunmen kill 21 in northwestern Nigeria

By Timothy Olanrewaju

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AA) - Gunmen killed 21 people in an attack at a busy market in Nigeria’s northwestern Niger state, a local official and residents said Friday.

Over a dozen of armed men stormed the Madaka Market in Rafi local government area on Thursday at the peak of commercial activities, and opened fire randomly, Ayuba Katako, head of the local government, told journalists.

He said the local authority has commenced effort to ascertain the total number of casualties.

Wasiu Abiodun, a police spokesman for Niger State, told Anadolu the police were "yet to get the full details of the incident."

Yunusa Adamu, a local barbecue operator and survivor, however, told Anadolu by phone that 21 people were killed. He said the gunmen also looted shops.

Gunmen attacks on communities and schools have recently been on the rise in Nigeria amid harsh economic situation.