Leadnaija
The remains of 12 victims of the gruesome mob attack in Mangun District of Mangu Local Government Area, Plateau State, were on Saturday evening interred at the Hayi Muslim Cemetery, Mangu, under heavy security presence.
The deceased, including women and children, were among 31 persons from the Basawa community in Zaria, Kaduna State, travelling in an 18-seater Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria bus to Qua’an Pan Local Government Area to attend a wedding ceremony when they were ambushed and killed.
According to eyewitnesses, the travelers had lost their way and stopped to ask for directions when they were attacked by a mob.
The burial, conducted with the consent of the bereaved families, was held in Plateau State to forestall potential unrest in their home communities.
Leading the funeral prayers, Sheikh Suleiman Haruna urged relatives and sympathizers to remain calm and accept the tragedy as an act of God. He cautioned against retaliation, emphasizing that justice must follow due process.
“We must not allow this tragedy to spark another cycle of violence,” he said, commending security operatives and community leaders for their swift intervention.
Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, described the killings as “barbaric and senseless,” urging security agencies to identify and prosecute those behind the attack. He also appealed to his Plateau State counterpart, Governor Caleb Mutfwang, to ensure justice is served without delay.
Governor Sani assured that his administration would provide full medical care for the 11 injured survivors receiving treatment at Mangu General Hospital and extend necessary support to the affected families.
The Plateau State government, in a separate statement, condemned the attack and pledged that the culprits would not go unpunished.
