…Police Arrest 22 Suspects
At least eight persons have been confirmed dead and 19 others injured following a mob attack on a bus conveying wedding guests from Zaria, Kaduna State, to Qua’anpan Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The tragic incident happened on Friday evening in Manjul community, Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The 18-seater bus, which belongs to Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, was carrying 31 passengers, including women and children, when it came under brutal attack around 8:00 p.m.
According to one of the survivors, Ibrahim Umar, the travellers had missed their way at Kyarang junction and stopped to ask for directions when they were ambushed.
He narrated: “We were coming from Zaria and heading to Qua’anpan Local Government Area for a friend’s wedding. He teaches at a school in Qua. Our driver missed the road at Kyarang junction.
“At around 6:00 p.m., we stopped in a community to ask for directions. Some of them said, ‘These are Hausa people, let’s kill them.’ They surrounded the bus and began attacking us with sticks, machetes, and stones.”
Umar continued: “They beat us severely. Eight people died on the spot, and four others are still missing. They first killed the driver and then set the bus on fire, burning seven of the bodies.
“There were 31 of us on board. The bus belongs to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Nineteen of us are now receiving treatment at the Mangu General Hospital.”
Sheikh Suleiman Haruna, Chief Imam of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’a Wa’ikamatis Sunnah, confirmed the development.
He said: “There were 31 travellers in the bus. Now we have eight corpses in the hospitals. We have asked the security personnel to help recover the remaining four bodies. We were together with the chairman of Mangu LGA, and he has been up and doing on the matter.”
The Chairman of Mangu Local Government Council, Mr Emmanuel Bala, also confirmed the incident, saying the attack was a case of mistaken identity due to heightened tensions in the community over an earlier threat.
He said: “Due to the earlier incident where people were attacked, members of the Manjul community had received report that bandits might strike again. The youths were therefore on the alert. Unfortunately, some travellers heading to Quan’pan mistakenly took the road to Mangu and were attacked by a mob.
“The travellers were 31 in a bus. I personally visited the scene. Eight people were confirmed dead, and the deceased and injured were taken to the General Hospital in Mangu.
“Security personnel are investigating the incident. It is unfortunate that innocent people (Hausa Muslims) were attacked and killed.”
The Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Mr Emmanuel Adesina, confirmed the arrest of 22 suspects in connection with the attack.
“Seven persons died on the spot, but this morning, one among the injured also died in the hospital. This brings the number of those who died to eight,” he stated, adding that security personnel were still combing the community to apprehend other suspects involved in the killing.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has also reacted to the attack, describing it as a senseless act of criminality. He visited the scene of the incident on Saturday and called for calm.
“I have reached out to my brother, Gov. Uba Sani of Kaduna State and the Emir of Zazzau; I have briefed them on this unfortunate incident. This is not something that we are happy with; this is not an occurrence that we will condone.
“So, we condemn it in all totality, and we have made a pledge that any act of criminality would not be tolerated. I therefore want to use this medium again to call upon the youth of Plateau, that it is time to be very sensible.
“It is time to be wise. If you find strangers in your midst, call for interrogation to avoid a case of mistaken identity and not take laws into your hands.”
The Governor, who also visited the injured victims receiving treatment at the Mangu General Hospital, pledged that the state government would cover all their medical expenses.
He also condoled with the families of the deceased and promised to send a delegation to visit them and the government of Kaduna State.
“I want to assure Nigerians that Plateau will continue to be home to everybody, irrespective of ethnicity and religious beliefs,” he added.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International has condemned the killings and called for an urgent investigation. The human rights organisation put the death toll at 12, describing the killings as “horrific” and a “disdain for the right to life.”
“The Nigerian authorities must immediately and effectively investigate the killing of at least 12 travelers from Basawa in Zaria LGA of Kaduna state by a mob in Mangu local government area of Plateau state. Authorities must ensure that the actual persons behind the horrific attack are brought to justice,” the group said in a statement on X on Saturday.
“The 18-seater bus belonging to Ahmadu Bello University Zaria (ABU) conveying 31 persons to a wedding was attacked yesterday around 8:00pm and 12 people instantly killed while 11 persons were injured.”
Amnesty also referenced a similar incident in August 2021 along Rukuba Road in Jos North, where 22 travellers returning from an Islamic New Year commemoration in Bauchi were also killed by a mob.
“The Nigerian authorities must go beyond merely condemning the incident and ensure that such incident never happen again. Targeting commuters while traveling through a community is a crime that cannot be justified — and shows utter disdain for the right to life and due process of law,” it added.
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