Abas Rufa’i, a survivor of a violent mob attack on wedding guests in Mangun, Mangu LGA, Plateau State, shared his harrowing experience with Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani during a hospital visit to injured victims at the 44 Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna.
Rufa’i was among 31 passengers traveling in an 18-seater Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) bus from Basawa-Anguwan Rimi, Zaria, to Qua’an Pan for a wedding when the attack occurred on Friday.
Rufa’i described his escape as miraculous. After the bus stopped and he stepped out to ask for directions, he noticed hostility from nearby individuals. Sensing danger, he refrained from engaging them. “I heard them say, ‘We should kill them all and burn the vehicle.’
They started attacking the bus, and the driver tried to escape, but the road was blocked with stones and logs,” he recounted. Wearing loose clothing, Rufa’i discreetly slipped away, removed his gown, and fled.
He flagged down a motorcycle rider, convincing him to head toward a police station but instead alerted soldiers at a checkpoint about the attack. The soldiers swiftly mobilized, rescuing 18 injured passengers from the burning bus, though others perished.
Governor Uba Sani, visiting the victims’ community in Kudan LGA, condemned the attack and urged state governments to uphold citizens’ constitutional right to free movement. He praised the Kudan community for their restraint and emphasized the government’s duty to protect lives and property. Sani also visited the injured at the hospital, reaffirming his commitment to justice.
The Plateau State Government, through Commissioner for Information Joyce Ramnap, announced plans to compensate victims and prevent future attacks. Ramnap confirmed 22 suspects have been arrested, with ongoing police investigations. She stressed the state’s commitment to peace and harmony across ethno-religious lines.
The ABU Zaria Muslim Forum condemned the killing of 13 wedding guests, including a Physics Department staff member, calling it an act of “savagery and barbarism.” The forum criticized the Mangu LGA Chairman’s claim of “mistaken identity” as dismissive and warned against targeting Muslim travelers, citing risks of retaliatory violence.
The House of Representatives demanded immediate action from the Inspector General of Police, DSS Director General, and Chief of Army Staff to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators, warning that unchecked impunity undermines public trust.
The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) labeled the attack a “premeditated atrocity” and called for urgent measures to address escalating insecurity in the North. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 northern states denounced the killings as “barbaric and ungodly,” urging swift justice to prevent further chaos.
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