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34 killed in Nigeria shooting
At least 34 people were killed after a failed cattle raid in a northeast Nigeria market sparked a retaliatory attack by robbers angry one of their colleagues had been burned alive by herders, an official and witnesses said.
The casualty figure could be higher from the attack in Potiskum, a town in Nigeria’s Yobe State, as Muslim mourners often quickly bury their dead without taking bodies to the authorities. The violence began Wednesday, as witnesses said gunmen started shooting in the Potiskum market, trying to steal cattle.
Witnesses said three people at the market were killed, as a fourth man suspected to be part of the group of robbers was set afire while still alive and died of his burns.
Police confirmed the attack happened but gave no further details.
That night, the gunmen returned, firing at those living there and setting the market ablaze, witnesses said. On Thursday, the Potiskum General Hospital took in 34 corpses from the attack, an official there said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to journalists.
At least 34 people were killed after a failed cattle raid in a northeast Nigeria market sparked a retaliatory attack by robbers angry one of their colleagues had been burned alive by herders, an official and witnesses said.
The casualty figure could be higher from the attack in Potiskum, a town in Nigeria’s Yobe State, as Muslim mourners often quickly bury their dead without taking bodies to the authorities. The violence began Wednesday, as witnesses said gunmen started shooting in the Potiskum market, trying to steal cattle.
Witnesses said three people at the market were killed, as a fourth man suspected to be part of the group of robbers was set afire while still alive and died of his burns.
Police confirmed the attack happened but gave no further details.
That night, the gunmen returned, firing at those living there and setting the market ablaze, witnesses said. On Thursday, the Potiskum General Hospital took in 34 corpses from the attack, an official there said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to journalists.
