Gunman attack Nigerian market, kill dozens

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POTISKUM, Nigeria, May 4 (UPI) -- Scores of people were killed at a market in Nigeria after victims fought off armed robbers and the robbers retaliated with an explosives attack, witnesses said.

Gunmen stormed the market Wednesday evening, shooting people at random and setting off explosives, after they had been routed during an armed robbery at the market, a witness told The Nation.

"While we were in the market, a group of armed robbers came in a Volkswagen Golf car, opened fire and started extorting money from us [traders]. Our people resisted and caught one of them. The suspect was beaten and burnt to death by angry traders," said Ardo Abdullahi, a trader who survived the incident.

"I suspect that the remaining robbers escaped and came back around 6 p.m. with explosive materials, burnt down all the buildings, cars and structures in the cattle market and shot at random on everyone in the market," he said.

The traders said at least 60 people died in the incident but Police Commissioner Moses Onariti said 34 people were killed and 29 were hospitalized.

Secretary of the Cattle Traders Union Alhaji Maigari Lamido said the attackers burned 40 cows and 17 vehicles.

Onariti said no arrests have been made.