Plateau Youths Attack Bus to Kaduna, Kill 12, Injure 19
A tragic incident unfolded in Plateau State on Friday night, as a group of armed youths ambushed a commercial bus carrying wedding guests, leaving 12 dead and 19 others injured in a brutal attack that has shocked the region.
The victims, including men, women, and children, had set off from Basawa in Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State in an 18-seater bus hired from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.
Their destination was Qua’an Pan Local Government Area, where they were heading to attend a family wedding.
According to multiple survivor accounts, the attack occurred around 8 p.m. near Kyarang junction in Manjul community, Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The bus had reportedly missed its way and stopped to ask for directions—an act that tragically led to their ambush.
“We were on our way to Qua’an Pan for our brother’s wedding,” survivor Ibrahim Umar told Daily Trust. “Since we didn’t know the road, we stopped to ask for directions. Suddenly, we were surrounded by people shouting that we should be killed.
They attacked us with dangerous weapons and killed the driver first before turning on the rest of us. They even set the bus on fire with some of the bodies inside. We are lucky to be alive and are now receiving treatment in the hospital.”
A security source confirmed the attack, stating that the assailants—suspected to be youths from Mangun Village—intercepted the bus and unleashed violence. The vehicle was set ablaze after the passengers were assaulted.
“Seven passengers died instantly,” the source said. “One other was left in critical condition, while six more sustained varying degrees of injuries. The charred remains of the bus are a haunting reminder of the senseless loss of life.”
Fortunately, 14 passengers were rescued after local leaders intervened, likely preventing an even greater tragedy.
The Chairman of Mangu Local Government Area, Emmanuel Bala, confirmed the attack and described it as a case of mistaken identity. He explained that the local youths were on edge following reports of possible bandit activity in the area.
“Due to earlier attacks, the Manjul community had been on high alert. When the travellers mistakenly took the road through Mangu, they were misidentified as a threat,” Bala said. “Sadly, eight were confirmed dead at the scene, and the rest were rushed to the General Hospital in Mangu. It’s heartbreaking that innocent people—Hausa Muslims—were targeted in error.”
The Chief Imam of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’a Wa’ikamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), Sheikh Suleiman Haruna, also confirmed the deaths. He said eight bodies had been recovered and deposited at the Mangu General Hospital, and efforts were ongoing to retrieve four more believed to be inside the burned vehicle.
“There were 31 travellers on board,” he stated. “We’ve recovered eight bodies so far. Security forces are helping us retrieve the rest.”
As of Saturday, the Plateau State Police Command had not issued an official statement. Repeated attempts by journalists to contact DSP Alfred Alabo, the command’s spokesperson, were unsuccessful, as he declined calls and did not respond to text messages.
The attack has sparked outrage and grief across both Kaduna and Plateau states, with renewed calls for better inter-communal coordination, improved road safety, and stronger intelligence sharing to prevent similar tragedies.
Plateau Youths Attack Bus to Kaduna, Kill 12, Injure 19