At least eight people have been confirmed dead and 19 others injured after a violent attack on an Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, bus carrying 31 passengers in the Manjul community of Mangu Local Government Area, Plateau State.
The incident occurred on Friday evening when the passengers, en route to a wedding ceremony in Qua’anpan Local Government Area, lost their way at Kyarang Junction and stopped to ask for directions. According to one of the survivors, Ibrahim Umar, the group was intentionally targeted after asking locals for help.
“We were traveling from Zaria to Qua’anpan for a friend’s wedding. The driver missed the road at Kyarang Junction, and around 6 p.m., we stopped to ask for directions. Some locals immediately began to shout, ‘These are Hausa people, let’s kill them,’” Umar explained.
He went on to describe the brutal attack: “They surrounded the bus and started beating us with sticks, machetes, and stones. The violence was extreme. Eight people died on the spot, and four others are still missing. The attackers killed the driver first, then set the bus on fire, burning seven of the bodies.”
Out of the 31 passengers on board, 19 sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the Mangu General Hospital.
Mangu Local Government Chairman, Emmanuel Bala, confirmed the attack but emphasized that it was a case of mistaken identity. He explained that the community had been on high alert due to recent reports of bandit activity in the area. “The youths in Manjul had received information that bandits might strike again, and they were on the lookout,” Bala said. “Unfortunately, the group of travelers, who were heading to Qua’anpan, mistakenly took the road into Mangu and were attacked by a mob.”
Bala expressed his deep sorrow over the tragedy: “Eight people have been confirmed dead, and both the deceased and the injured were taken to the Mangu General Hospital. It is unfortunate that innocent people, who were Hausa Muslims, became victims in this incident.”
Authorities have launched an investigation into the attack, with security personnel working to piece together the full details of the event.
