Youths attack ABU Zaria bus carrying 31 passengers, kill 8, injure 19 others in Plateau

… As LG chair says the passengers were mistaken for bandits

By Fatima Muhammad Tanko —

At least eight people have been confirmed dead and 19 others injured، following an attack on Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria bus carrying 31 passengers in Manjul community of Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Hide quoted text

DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that the incident took place Friday evening when the travellers, who were going for a marriage ceremony in Qua’anpan Local Government Area, miss their way at Kyarang junction and were asking for directions.

Narrating their ordeal, one of the survivors, Ibrahim Umar, stated that they were deliberately targeted after asking for directions.

He said: “We were coming from Zaria and heading to Qua’anpan Local Government Area for a friend’s wedding. He teaches at a school in Qua. Our driver missed the road at Kyarang junction.

“At around 6pm, we stopped in a community to ask for directions. Some of them 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.

“There were 31 of us on board. The bus belongs to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Nineteen of us are now receiving treatment at the Mangu General Hospital,” Mr Umar said.

Confirming the incident, the Mangu Local Government Council chairman, Emmanuel Bala, said the attack was mistakenly carried out.

He said: “Due to the earlier incident where people were attacked, members of the Manjul community had received report that bandits might strike again. The youths were therefore on the alert. Unfortunately, some travellers heading to Quan’pan mistakenly took the road to Mangu and were attacked by a mob.

“The travellers were 31 in a bus. I personally visited the scene. Eight people were confirmed dead, and the deceased and injured were taken to the General Hospital in Mangu.

“Security personnel are investigating the incident.

“It is unfortunate that innocent people—Hausa Muslims—were attacked and killed,” Mr Bala lamented.