At least eight people have been confirmed dead and 19 others injured following a brutal mob attack on a bus belonging to Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.
The incident occurred Friday evening in the Manjul community of Mangu Local Government Area, Plateau State.The ill-fated vehicle, carrying 31 passengers en route to a wedding in Qua’anpan Local Government Area, reportedly lost its way around the Kyarang junction.
According to one of the survivors, Ibrahim Umar, the passengers were attacked after stopping to ask for directions.Narrating the harrowing experience, Umar said, “We were coming from Zaria and heading to Qua’anpan for a friend’s wedding.
He teaches in a school there. Our driver missed the road at Kyarang junction. Around 6pm, we stopped in a community to ask for directions, and some people said, ‘These are Hausa people, let’s kill them.’“They surrounded the bus and began attacking us with sticks, machetes, and stones. They beat us severely. Eight people died on the spot, and four others are still missing.
“They first killed the driver and then set the bus on fire, burning seven of the bodies. Nineteen of us are currently receiving treatment at Mangu General Hospital,” he added.Confirming the incident, Chairman of Mangu Local Government Council, Emmanuel Bala, described the attack as a tragic case of mistaken identity.
“Following earlier attacks in the area, the Manjul community had been on edge with reports of possible bandit strikes. The youths were on high alert. Unfortunately, some travellers headed to Qua’anpan mistakenly passed through the area and were attacked by a mob,” Bala explained.
“I personally visited the scene. Eight people were confirmed dead, and both the deceased and injured were taken to the General Hospital in Mangu.
It is unfortunate that innocent people—Hausa Muslims—were attacked and killed,” he lamented.Authorities say security agencies have launched an investigation into the incident.
