The 12 victims of Friday night’s mob attack in Mangun District of Mangu Local Government Area, Plateau State, have been laid to rest at the Hayi Muslim Cemetery in Mangu.
The deceased, including women and children, were part of a 31-member group from the Basawa community in Zaria, Kaduna State, travelling in an 18-seater Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria bus en route to Qua’an Pan LGA for a wedding ceremony.
They reportedly lost their way and stopped to ask for directions when they were attacked.
The burial took place Saturday evening amid tight security. Religious leaders said the victims’ families consented to the burial in Plateau to avoid tension in their home communities.
Before the funeral prayers, Sheikh Suleiman Haruna, who led the rites, urged residents to accept the incident as the will of Allah and refrain from seeking revenge. He praised security agencies and local leaders for responding quickly to the crisis.
Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, condemned the killings as “barbaric and senseless,” calling on security agencies to swiftly arrest and prosecute the perpetrators.
He also urged his Plateau counterpart, Governor Caleb Mutfwang, to take decisive action in coordinating justice efforts.
He assured Kaduna residents that the state government is supporting the victims’ families and ensuring that the 11 survivors receive adequate medical care at Mangu General Hospital.
The Plateau State government has also condemned the attack and vowed to bring those responsible to justice.