At least 12 travelers from the Basawa community in Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State have been killed in an attack by a mob in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The incident occurred around 8:00 p.m. on Friday when a group of 31 individuals, including men, women, and children, were traveling in an 18-seater bus reportedly owned by Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria. The group was en route to Qua’an Pan LGA to attend a wedding ceremony when they were attacked.
Eleven of the travelers sustained various injuries and are currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Mangu. The victims were said to have mistakenly taken a wrong route and stopped to ask for directions when they were surrounded and attacked.
A survivor, Ibrahim Umar, said the group was unfamiliar with the area and had stopped to seek guidance when a mob gathered and launched the assault.
“They started beating and attacking us with dangerous weapons,”; Umar recounted. “They killed the driver first, then attacked others, and burned the bus with bodies inside.”;
The Chief Imam of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’a Wa’ikamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), Sheikh Suleiman Haruna, confirmed that eight of the bodies had been recovered and deposited at Mangu General Hospital, while efforts were ongoing to locate the remaining corpses.
He commended the Chairman of Mangu LGA for his prompt response and coordination with security agencies.
Spokesperson of the Plateau State Police Command, DSP Alfred Alabo, confirmed that the command was aware of the incident and said an official statement would be issued in due course.
