At least eight wedding guests were killed and 19 others injured when a violent mob attacked their vehicle in Manjul community, Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The victims, all passengers on a bus from Zaria heading to Qua’anpan for a wedding ceremony, lost their way at Kyarang junction on Friday evening.
According to eyewitness accounts, the driver had stopped to ask for directions when a group of youths descended on them.
“We were coming from Zaria for a friend’s wedding. Our driver missed the road and stopped to ask for directions. Suddenly, some youths identified us as Hausa and shouted, ‘Let’s kill them.’ They attacked us with machetes, stones, and sticks. Eight people were killed on the spot, including the driver. The bus was set ablaze, burning several of the victims,” said a survivor, Ibrahim Umar.
He also noted that four other passengers are still missing, while 19 survivors are receiving treatment at Mangu General Hospital.
Chairman of Mangu Local Government Area, Emmanuel Bala, confirmed the incident, describing it as a case of mistaken identity. “It was a terrible mistake. The youths, acting on false information, mistook the travelers for attackers. Security agencies are now investigating the matter,” he said.
Bala further stated that both the dead and injured were quickly evacuated to the hospital and assured that measures are being taken to prevent a recurrence.
