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.”

Enugu PPRO, SP Daniel Ndukwe

The Enugu State Police Command has taken into custody a 39-year-old suspected firearm repairer along with six other individuals, following a series of intelligence-driven operations aimed at curbing illegal arms activities in the state.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, the arrests were made in the course of targeted operations conducted from June 15 to June 21.

Ndukwe explained that the operations were executed as part of broader strategic measures introduced by the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mamman Giwa, to proactively address crime.

“The operations were part of the strategic, proactive crime-fighting measures put in place by the Commissioner of Police, Mr Mamman Giwa,” Ndukwe stated.

As a result of the coordinated efforts, police operatives were able to recover seven firearms, including a mix of locally fabricated and modified weapons.

In addition, one expended cartridge, two live cartridges, and several other incriminating items were also retrieved.

“The operations … led to the recovery of seven firearms, one expended cartridge, two live cartridges and other incriminating exhibits,” Ndukwe added.

The suspects are currently being held for questioning as investigations continue into their individual and collective roles in the alleged possession and circulation of illegal firearms.

Authorities have not yet released the full identities of the suspects or further details about the specific locations of the arrests.

However, police sources indicated that the operations were spread across different communities within the state, based on actionable intelligence gathered over the past weeks.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has declined to hear a motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) regarding one of the properties it seized from former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, due to the Commission’s failure to comply with an earlier court order.

Presiding over the matter, Justice Musa Liman criticized the EFCC for defying the court’s May 16 order, which instructed the agency to vacate House 6, Aso Drive, Asokoro, Abuja, and allow the property’s occupant, High Chief Ikechi Emenike, access to it. Instead of obeying the directive, the EFCC returned to court seeking a stay of the order pending an appeal.

Justice Liman described the EFCC’s action as disrespectful and warned that the court would not entertain further applications from the agency until it complies with the existing order.

“The law is no respecter of any person. If order of the court can be treated with disdain by an agency of the government, then there will be nothing left, but for persons to take law into their own hands,” the judge said.

He emphasized that allowing such disobedience threatens the foundation of the rule of law.

“Disobedience to a court order is injurious to the rule of law and can lead to anarchy. Where a party has refused to obey court order, the court cannot exercise discretion in favour of such a party.

“Therefore, this court will deny the applicant (EFCC) further audience till it purge itself of the contempt,” he added.

The May 16 ruling remains valid, ensuring that High Chief Emenike is entitled to remain in the property.

In addition to rejecting EFCC’s request for a stay of execution, the court granted an application for substituted service of court papers on EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede and agency counsel Francis Usani in an ongoing contempt case.

The contempt motion, filed by Emenike’s lawyer Obi Nwakor, seeks to hold both men accountable for obstructing the enforcement of the court’s order.

In the motion, Nwakor urged the court:

“to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of the EFCC Chairman and a lawyer that represented the agency in the case, Usani, for brazen and grievous acts of contempt of resisting and obstructing the Sheriffs of this court from the execution of orders of this honourable court in this suit, made on the 16th day of May 2025.”

The court was also asked to authorize the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to immediately arrest and detain the two EFCC officials.

“The court is also urged to issue an order of the court, directing the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to take the duo into custody with immediate effect for the purpose of bringing them before the court to show cause why they should not be committed to prison for brazen and grievous contempt of court.”

According to court filings, the EFCC obtained a final forfeiture order over the property in October 2023 and subsequently listed it for sale.

However, Emenike, the legal occupant at the time, obtained a ruling from a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, granting him the right of first refusal.

Despite that ruling, the EFCC allegedly disregarded the directive and forcefully evicted Emenike, claiming the property was now to be used as the residence for the Commission’s Chairman.

The case has been adjourned to allow time for proper service of the contempt proceedings and for the EFCC to comply with the court’s directive.

The Bayelsa State Police Command has pledged to safely recover Justice E.G. Umokoro, a judge of the State High Court, who was kidnapped by gunmen believed to have disguised themselves in police uniforms.

The judge was abducted on Saturday evening near the Ekeki Motor Park in Yenagoa, where the attackers fired multiple shots to create panic before whisking him away to an unknown location.

In an official statement released on Sunday through the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Commissioner of Police (CP) Francis Alonyenu reassured the public that security agencies are actively collaborating to track and rescue the judge.

Dismissing rumours that the kidnappers were genuine police officers, the CP clarified that the assailants were impostors.

Alonyenu said Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa had directed all security agencies to intensify their efforts in locating the judge and bringing the culprits to justice.

“The Bayelsa Police Command is fussing efforts with other security agencies and reviewing video clips related to the event with different digital footage,” he said.

According to him, law enforcement teams are utilizing advanced tools and detailed intelligence for crime mapping to support the ongoing rescue operations.

“We have well-formatted crime mapping sketches aiding ongoing law enforcement efforts being mustered in the rescue efforts,” he added.

The Commissioner emphasized that this unfortunate event should not erode public confidence in the state’s security personnel.

“Guarantees are herewith given that this singular incident should not orchestrate any mistrust between the Bayelsa Public and security forces within the state.

“The support of Sen. Douye Diri, Governor of Bayelsa State and the good people of the state, have enhanced our capacity and determination to ensure that the Justice is rescued unhurt,” he stated.

He further noted that the police command has heightened security operations and reinforced its law enforcement strategies to resolve the situation swiftly.

“At this point, it is also essential to appeal to members of the public to desist from any attempt to obstruct or hinder ongoing measures put in place for the rescue of the Hon. Justice.

“We call on your support and understanding in this regard, please,” he concluded.

The Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has officially inaugurated the Management Board for the Protection of State-owned Social Homes, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to caring for the vulnerable population within the state.

The newly formed Board is chaired by the state’s First Lady, Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah, with Prof. Christian Anieke, a Reverend Father, serving as co-Chairman.

Other key members include Rev. Canon Chibuike Okolo as Vice Chairman and Mrs. Ngozi Enih, Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs, and Social Development, who represents the Ministry.

Additional members are Rev. Sr. Mary Gloria Iloka, Rev. Sr. Veritas Onyemelukwe, Pastor Elias Anyigbo, Mrs. Anna Igbokwe, and Barr. Chidinma Egeonu, while Barr. Uzoama Okeji was appointed as the Board’s Executive Secretary.

During the inauguration at the Government House in Enugu, Governor Mbah expressed the importance of inclusive growth, saying,

“Recall that even when we expressed a huge growth projection, we immediately added that we were going to also eradicate poverty, which means that we are always interested in our common humanity.”

“We know that as a people, we are only as good as our weakest link.
So, we cannot leave the vulnerable in our society out or behind. What we have pledged is an inclusive prosperity, inclusive economic growth and that growth and prosperity should be measured on how we treat those very vulnerable ones in our society.”

“That is why I am so excited that we have the sort of resources, a pool of people with great reputation, experience, and work ethics to serve on this Board.”

He further assured that his administration would provide all necessary resources to enable the Board to effectively manage the social homes.

“We are committed to making sure that we provide you with all the tools and funds you require to ensure that our people in these social homes live in comfort and dignity,” he emphasized.

Also addressing the Board, the First Lady urged members to begin work immediately and conduct their duties with integrity.

“I urge you all to be diligent, fair and transparent in discharging your duties. Discharge those duties in compliance with the law and take good care of our children,” she stated.

In a related development, Governor Mbah granted clemency to eleven inmates of correctional facilities in Enugu State.

This clemency move is aimed at reducing congestion in prisons while offering the beneficiaries a chance to reintegrate positively into society.

The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Barr. Victor Udeh, conveyed the names of the beneficiaries to the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Kingsley Udeh.

The beneficiaries include Ugochukwu Oma, Onah Nnamdi, Chiadikobi Onu, Emmanuel Sambo, Emeka Nyia, Ngene Oluebube, Francis Chinecherem, Eze Chigozie, Anthony Tombari, Francis Chibuzor, and Uzoma Nnaoche.

The Governor exercised his prerogative of mercy powers under Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), following consultations with the Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy.

The decision was based on reports highlighting proven character reform, ability to reintegrate into society, possession or acquisition of productive skills, and recommendations from both the Nigerian Correctional Service and the Advisory Council, chaired by the State Attorney-General.

The Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy also includes members from the Nigerian Correctional Service, Carmelite Prisoners Interest Organisation (CAPIO), and the Catholic Institute for Development, Justice and Peace (CIDJAP), among other respected justice sector bodies.

Gunmen have reportedly hijacked a commercial bus belonging to Benue Links Transport Company along the Otukpo-Otukpa road, near Eke in Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State.

According to eyewitness accounts, the attack occurred around 6:30 pm on Sunday.

The assailants, believed to be armed bandits, intercepted the fully-loaded vehicle and forced it off the road.

Sources told DAILY GAZETTE that the attackers robbed all the passengers before marching them into the surrounding bush under threat.

Security forces, acting on a distress alert reportedly raised by Comrade Austin Agada, Chairman of the Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who passed by the scene shortly after the incident, have launched a search-and-rescue operation.

As of the time of filing this report, a combined team of security operatives is actively combing the area in a bid to locate and rescue the kidnapped victims.

Detail soon….