Three Killed, Seven Injured As Gunmen Attack Taraba Cattle Market

At least three herders have been killed and seven others injured after gunmen opened fire in a cattle market in Taraba State on Saturday. 

The attack occurred at Mararraban Kunini, a major livestock trading community in Lau Local Government Area.

The Market was recently opened following an ethno-religious conflict that engulfed Mayo-Lope town, which was formerly home to the central cattle market. The violence forced most of the traders in Mayo-Lope to flee the community.

Witnesses said the gunmen stormed the market at the peak of business Saturday afternoon and suddenly opened fire. 

The attackers did not steal cows or any other merchandise at the market.

The police confirmed the attack on Sunday, with David Misal, an assistant superintendent of police, saying the police were informed of three deaths while seven persons sustained injuries.

No arrests have been made, but security measures in the area have been intensified to avoid further bloodshed, the police spokesperson said. 

The attack followed an indiscriminate killing of cows in Taraba-Abbare town in the same local government area on Thursday.

At least 150 cows were killed during the attack, according to community leaders who are now demanding urgent intervention by the Nigerian military and other security agencies.

Dozens of cows that were injured in the attack were later taken to food markets in Jalingo, the state capital. Some herders reportedly took their injured cows to a market in Mayo-Belwa in the neighbouring Adamawa State.