Seven people, among them a mother and her six-year-old child, were shot and killed when armed assailants raided Ugya community in Toto LGA of Nasarawa State.

A resident of Ugya, Ibrahim Alkali, said the incident happened around 4:12 am on Thursday when the armed gunmen came through the bush path to launched the attack.

He said the gunmen, who were wielding sophisticated weapons in their numbers, shot into the air, saying some residents out of fear, ran out of their houses to escape when the gunmen opened fire and killed seven people.

According to him, some troops deployed to the community swiftly mobilized to the scene upon hearing the sporadic gun shots but they had fled before the troops could arrived.

Alkali also said the gunmen also set three vehicles ablaze, broke some shops and carted away food stuffs, drugs and other valuables.

City & Crime gathered that funeral prayers were observed for the seven deceased victims, which had in attendance, the Ohinoyi of Ogye, Alhaji Muhammed Azaki and some members of his traditional council.

The chairman of Toto LGA, Alhaji Abdullahi Aliyu Tashas, confirmed the attack at Ugya community, saying seven residents were killed by the gun men.