One of the wedding travellers, Abas Rufa’I, who survived the mob attack on Friday in the Mangun community of Mangu Local Government Area, Plateau State, has recounted how he miraculously escaped through the mob to alert soldiers who later rescued other victims.

Rufa’I shared his experience with Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State during the governor’s visit to the injured victims at the 44 Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna.

Rufa’I was among 31 wedding guests attacked while travelling in an 18-seater bus belonging to Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.

The group, consisting of men, women, and children from the Basawa-Anguwan Rimi community in Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State, was en route to Qua’an Pan LGA for a wedding ceremony when they were attacked.

Describing his escape as miraculous, the survivor said he was the first to disembark from the bus to ask for directions after the driver had parked by the roadside.

As he approached some people sitting nearby, he noticed hostility in their expressions, which signalled he was not welcome. Sensing danger from their body language, he decided not to speak to them.

“When I turned back, I heard them say, ‘We should kill them all and burn the vehicle.’ Before we knew it, some of them began hitting the bus, prompting the driver to attempt a U-turn. But they had already barricaded the road with heavy stones and logs.

“Miraculously, I moved back slightly. I was wearing loose clothes with short trousers, so I quickly removed the gown without attracting attention. Gradually, I slipped away from the bus, which they had already set ablaze with the travellers still inside,” Rufa’I said.

He said while the bus was burning, “I saw an okada rider and asked him to take me to a police station. Since he didn’t know me, I told him I had a personal issue that needed police attention.”

He said while they were riding, he spotted soldiers at a checkpoint and asked the rider to stop. “Before I could even pay the rider, he made a U-turn and returned to the community. I quickly approached the soldiers and informed them about the attack on my relatives in the village.”

The soldiers Immediately mobilised and followed him to the scene, where they found the bus in flames. They managed to rescue about 18 people with various injuries, while others had already been killed.

Our constitution guarantees freedom of movement – Uba Sani

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has advised his colleagues in other states to ensure freedom of movement of all citizens of Nigeria as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution as amended.

He reiterated that one of the most important responsibilities of any government is the protection of lives and property of its citizens, irrespective of who they are and where they come from.

The governor spoke at Kudan Local Government Area, where he went to commiserate with families of the travellers who were murdered on their way to a wedding in Plateau.

Leading a high-powered delegation comprising senior government officials, the governor commended the people of Kudan for not taking laws into their hands to avenge the killing of their kith and kin.

The governor said he went to 44 Military Hospital, Kaduna, on Monday to visit those who survived the attack but were injured “and here I am in their very community to commiserate with them and also thank them for being peaceful.”

We’ll compensate victims – Plateau gov’t

The Plateau State Government has announced plans to compensate victims of last Friday’s mob attack on wedding travellers in the state.

Joyce Ramnap, the State Commissioner for Information, stated this during a BBC Hausa morning programme.

Responding to questions about the government’s response, Ramnap said, “It is a must. We will compensate. We are considering the best approach to take. The government is currently awaiting the police report on the incident, and investigations are ongoing.”

She added that the state government is taking steps to prevent future occurrences, saying, “By the special grace of God, the government will take strong measures. We are committed to promoting peace and harmony among residents, regardless of ethno-religious differences.”

According to the commissioner, 22 suspects have already been arrested in connection with the attack. “The police are investigating, and anyone found responsible will be brought to justice. We are also in communication with the Kaduna State Government on the matter,” she said.

Ramnap urged residents to remain calm and go about their lawful activities, reaffirming that Plateau remains a home of peace and a place for everyone.

Killing premeditated – Muslim forum

The Ahmed Bello University, Zaria chapter of Muslim Forum has condemned the murder of 13 wedding guests in Plateau state.

In a statement, the forum said it received with shock the news of the killings of the unsuspecting travellers.

The forum also warned against targeting Muslim travellers, condemning a comment by the Mangu Local Chairman, Mr Emmanuel Bala, which it said was disrespectful.

The statement said, “The despicable and gruesome murder of our member, a peace-loving Muslim staff of the Department of Physics, ABU Zaria, alongside others, including women and children from our host community, whom he was conveying to a wedding event, is not only an act of sheer savagery and barbarism but also part of a disturbing pattern of impunity-driven violence.

“What these bloodthirsty serial killers fail to grasp is that targeting unarmed, innocent travellers under the illusion of impunity can only expose Plateau indigenes residing in other parts of the country to similar retaliatory vulnerabilities should others choose to reciprocate such barbaric behaviour. Let it be clearly stated: failure by the authorities to deliver justice that is punitive, deterrent, and consolatory not only emboldens impunity but also risks inciting counter-impunity on a scale that could prove catastrophic.

“The attempt by the Chairman of Mangu Local Government, Mr. Emmanuel Bala, to downplay this massacre as a “case of mistaken identity” is both futile and insulting. It only serves to confirm that the attack was premeditated and coordinated.”

Reps ask IGP, DSS to arrest killers

The House of Representatives on Tuesday called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun; the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede to immediately arrest and prosecute those responsible for the gruesome killing of 13 wedding guests in Plateau State.

Moving a motion of urgent public importance at the plenary session on Tuesday, Sadiq Ango Abdullahi decried the failure of security agencies to curb such attacks despite previous resolutions of the National Assembly and repeated promises of action by the authorities.

He warned that the inability to arrest and prosecute perpetrators of such heinous crimes is fuelling impunity and weakening public trust in government.

Adopting the motion, the house resolved to mandate the IGP, DG DSS, and Chief of Army Staff to urgently investigate the killings and ensure the culprits are brought to justice without delay.

Northern elders seek urgent action on North’s insecurity

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) on Tuesday condemned the killing of innocent travellers in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State and urged the federal government to urgently address the escalating insecurity across the country.

In a statement by its spokesperson, Professor Abubakar Jika Jiddere, NEF said it was “shaken to its core” by the attack on defenceless travellers in Plateau.

Jiddere said, “This premeditated atrocity is not only a crime against humanity but a stark indictment of a nation losing its grip on the most basic duty of governance, the protection of human life.

“Let us be clear: this was not a case of mistaken identity. It was not random. It was an act of evil. In any functioning society, a marked official vehicle carrying unarmed civilians, particularly women and children, would be seen as sacrosanct.

“That such a group could be slaughtered in cold blood speaks volumes about the depths of hate, lawlessness, and moral decay festering in parts of our nation.

“This tragedy is part of a much darker narrative, one where the Northern region of Nigeria is bleeding daily from unchecked violence.

The forum called for the immediate arrest, open prosecution, and strict punishment of those responsible for the Mangu massacre.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory has condemned the recent killing of travellers in Plateau, describing the incident as “barbaric and ungodly.”

In a statement signed by its secretary, Elder Sunday Oibe, the northern CAN said, “This barbaric and inhuman action reflects the worst of human nature and must not be tolerated under any circumstances.”

CAN acknowledged the ongoing security challenges in Mangu and other parts of the country but maintained that nothing could justify such brutality.

The group called on the federal and state governments, along with security agencies, to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice, warning that continued impunity could plunge the nation into chaos. (Daily Trust)