By Muhammad Tanko
Not fewer than eight people were confirmed burnt dead, four missing, 19 injured following an attack on weeding travellers in Manjul community in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State on Friday evening.
The travellers who mistook their way going for a weeding ceremony in Qua’anpan Local Government Area were ambushed, eight of them killed, four of which are still missing, 19 hospitalized in Mangu general hospital.
The travellers were coming from Zaria on their way to Quanpan Local government area to attained a friend weeding
One of the survivors, Ibrahim Umar, narrated the ordeal, stating that they were deliberately targeted after asking for directions.
“We were coming from Zaria and heading to Qua’anpan Local Government Area for a friend’s wedding. He teaches at a school in Qua. Our driver missed the road at Kerang junction where took Ampam/ Mangun road.
“At around 6 pm, we stopped in a community to ask for directions. Some of them said, ‘These are Hausa people, let’s kill them.’
“They surrounded the bus and began attacking us with sticks, machetes, and stones. They beat us severely. Eight people died on the spot, and four others are still missing.
“They first killed the driver and then set the bus on fire, burning seven of the bodies.
“There were 31 of us on board. The bus belongs to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Nineteen of us are now receiving treatment at the Mangu General Hospital,” Ibrahim Umar said.
Also confirming the incident Mangu Local Government Council chairman, Emmanuel Bala said the attack was mistakenly carried out.
“Due to the earlier incident where people were attacked, members of the Manjul community had received report that bandits might strike again.
The youths were therefore on the alert. Unfortunately, some travellers heading to Quan’pan mistakenly took the road to Mangun and were attacked by a mob.
“The travellers were 31 in a bus. I personally visited the scene. Eight people were confirmed dead, and the deceased and injured were taken to the General Hospital in Mangu.
“Security personnel are investigating the incident.
“It is unfortunate that innocent people, Hausa Muslims were attacked and killed,” Bala lamented.
Similarly a legal practitionner, Barrister Ishaq Lawal has warned that killings of innocent travellers must stop in Plateau State.
He called on the Plateau State Government to rise up to the occasion and put a stop to the incessant ambushing and killing of innocent travellers in the State.
A legal practitioner and community in Jos, Barrister Lawal Ishaq, made the call in a statement on Saturday decrying the recent attack and killing of eight Hausa Muslim travellers in Manjul community of Mangu Local Government Area of the State.
“The ugly practice of ambushing innocent travellers passing through Plateau state has reared its ugly head again!
“Yesterday, about 31 people including children from Zaria on their way to Kwa, in Quan Pan Local government of Plateau state for a wedding, were ambushed and 8 of them were brutally killed and their corpses set ablaze in the Bus they were traveling in.
“The Bus belong to ABU Zaria. About 18 others are now on admission in Mangu hospital receiving treatment from the various wounds inflicted on them. Four others are still missing. Among those killed is a 10-year old kid,” Barr Ishaq said.
According to him, the offense of these innocent travellers is simply being, “Hausa and Muslims!”
“This is one out of many such incidences dating back about two decades,” he said.
Barr Ishaq recalled that during Joshua Dariye administration, innocent travellers from Ningi, Bauchi state were similarly waylaid and brutally killed and their bodies burnt along with their vehicle.
“The case of the brutal murder of General Alkali who was just passing through Plateau is still in court. It happened during the Jang administration.
“During Lalong administration, Muslims from Ondo state who paid homage to Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi in Bauchi were waylaid and several of them killed and some escaped with various degrees of injuries,” he recalled.
Barr Ishaq said these are but few celebrated cases, adding that many have gone in similar manner unnoticed without trace.
“This is certainly a bad commentary on Plateau state. Stakeholders and government should rise up to erase this ugly trend from the name of Plateau state, which calls itself home of peace and tourism,” Barr Ishaq appealled.
