The death toll from last Friday’s attack on a wedding-bound bus in Mangun, Mangu LGA, Plateau State, has climbed to 13.
Initially eight bodies were recovered; yesterday, the remains of the four previously missing passengers and one of the injured victims were found dead.
A group of 32 men, women, and children were traveling in an 18-seater bus owned by Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Their destination was Qua’an Pan LGA for a wedding, departing from Basawa, Zaria. Around 8 pm, assailants ambushed the bus and set it ablaze.
Sheikh Suleiman Haruna, Chief Imam of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’a Wa’ikamatis Sunnah and chairman of the Muslim Consultative Forum in Mangun, told DAILY GAZETTE that “the bodies of the four missing travellers were recovered yesterday.”
He added that “one of the 19 injured travellers later died at the Mangu General Hospital, taking the death toll to 13.”
Nine victims were laid to rest on Saturday evening at Hayi Burial Ground in Mangun.
The four additional bodies were buried in Qua’an Pan LGA after relatives agreed, to avoid escalation.
Sheikh Haruna, who led the funeral, appealed for calm and justice:
“We are urging both the state and federal governments to intervene and deal decisively with the criminals that perpetrated this act. … Every person is entitled to practice his/her religion. Here, we agreed to live peacefully … Thank God, we have calmed everyone and that is why I am happy.”
Military and police officers were deployed to strategic points in Jos, including the terminus, Ahmadu Bello Way, and Bauchi Junction.
Survivor Accounts
Ibrahim Umar: “We were travelling from Zaria to Qua’an Pan for my cousin’s wedding. … We explained to the attackers that we were strangers carrying kola nuts and wedding gifts, but they didn’t listen. They killed our loved ones. … We told them we were strangers from Kaduna State, heading for a wedding ceremony, but they didn’t agree. We are all members of the same family and community.”
He credited soldiers nearby for preventing worse losses: “The soldiers really helped us. … If not for their quick response, the situation would have been different.”
Saadu Abdullahi: “We lost our way and entered a village by mistake. We stopped to ask for direction. Suddenly, people began beating us. We told them about the wedding, but they wouldn’t hear us. My elder brothers and younger ones were killed. They took our phones too.”
Maimuna (name withheld): “We were in touch with the groom, who told us to ask for direction if we got lost. Sadly, when we stopped to ask, the community turned on us. In a moment, we were surrounded and attacked with stones and dangerous weapons”
Rabi’a Sani, the groom, described the tragedy as a burden he will never forget:
“The wedding was scheduled for Friday at 2 pm … Little did we know our happiness would turn to darkness. Around 7 pm, a call came in … Soon after … I called them back, but my calls went unanswered.”
He recounted the horrific news:
“My phone informed me about the attack, telling me they were beaten, and some were injured and killed. My joy then turned into anger, sorrow and sadness. … My wedding became the cause of their deaths. My father, two younger brothers, and my uncle were killed … My main concern is for the injured to recover … I will live to remember this day in my life.”
He urged Governor Mutfwang: “I insist that justice for our loved ones … We won’t find peace if the perpetrators are left unpunished.”
The victims’ families have called for support and redress:
Malama Faji Sani Ibrahim, mother of the groom, mourned the loss of her husband and children: “It’s a great shock … My husband was the breadwinner. … I am therefore calling on the government to compensate us to enable us to survive and take care of the orphans.”
Haruna Idris, the groom’s brother: “The first day we received the information … they told us only nine people died and later 11. From then on, they stopped communicating with us to avoid raising tension. We have taken incident as the will of Allah.”
Haruna Abdullahi asked for the injured to be moved to Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, “to enable relatives to attend to them effectively.”
Plateau State Police Command reported the arrest of 22 suspects:
“On June 20th, 2025 … a bus carrying some passengers from Zaria … was attacked by an angry mob in Mangun Village … our men … quickly dispersed the angry mob and rescued 21 victims … As a result … some of the passengers lost their lives, while seven persons sustained varying degrees of injuries.”
The police commissioner appealed: “All citizens … avoid taking the law into their hands and report any suspicious activities …”
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, through spokesman Bayo Onanuga, labeled the attack “heinous, unacceptable and barbaric.”
He directed the police to collaborate with security agencies on apprehensions, stressing: “Freedom of movement by all citizens is non‑negotiable.”
Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, Governor of Gombe and NSGF chairman, called the act “barbaric and cowardly.”
He insisted: “The perpetrators … must be arrested and brought to justice without delay.”
Plateau Governor Caleb Mutfwang urged security agencies to thoroughly investigate, ensure justice, and proactively prevent recurrence.
Kaduna Governor Uba Sani echoed calls for justice, pledging to monitor progress and urging calm: “We must send a clear signal that impunity will no longer be tolerated.”
Dr. Salim Musa Umar, Secretary of the Plateau branch of JNI, condemned the attack and urged compensation: “Government should pay compensation to the victims’ families.”
