The twelve victims of Friday night’s tragic mob attack in Mangun District, Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, were laid to rest on Saturday evening at the Hayi Muslim Cemetery in Mangu under heavy security presence, as tension remains high in the region.
The deceased — including women and children — were part of a 31-member delegation from the Basawa community in Zaria, Kaduna State, travelling in an Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria 18-seater bus en route to Qua’an Pan Local Government Area for a wedding ceremony when they were brutally attacked after reportedly losing their way and stopping to seek directions.
The burial was conducted swiftly, with family consent to avoid further escalation or intercommunal tension in their home communities.
The funeral rites were led by Sheikh Suleiman Haruna, who appealed for restraint and called on residents to accept the tragic loss as “the will of Allah.” He urged families and communities to resist any urge for retaliation.
“Let us not allow this sad event to divide us further. We must honor the memory of these souls by upholding peace and praying for justice,” the cleric stated, commending local leaders and security agencies for their rapid intervention to prevent wider violence.
Reacting to the incident, Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, strongly condemned the attack, describing it as “barbaric, senseless, and totally unacceptable.”
He called for the swift arrest and prosecution of all those involved and urged Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, to take bold steps in coordinating a justice-driven response.
READ ALSO: EFCC arrests Benue governor’s aide over alleged sextortion, cyberbullying of female students
“We are working closely with security agencies and the Plateau State government to ensure those responsible are identified and prosecuted,” Sani said in a statement.
“Our thoughts are with the bereaved families, and we are also ensuring that the 11 survivors receive the best possible medical care at Mangu General Hospital.”
Governor Caleb Mutfwang also condemned the incident, stating that the Plateau State government will leave no stone unturned in investigating the attack and ensuring justice for the victims.
The attack has heightened already fragile ethno-religious tensions in parts of Plateau and Kaduna states, prompting increased military and police presence in both regions.
Security analysts warn that mob violence and highway insecurity remain major challenges in parts of North Central Nigeria, and called for increased intelligence gathering, community policing, and inter-state collaboration to prevent future tragedies.
While calm has returned to the area as of Sunday morning, residents and community leaders remain on edge, anxiously awaiting the outcome of investigations and arrests promised by both state governments.