The death toll in a brutal mob attack on a bus carrying Muslim wedding guests in Nigeria’s Plateau State has risen to 12, according to a statement released by the Nigerian presidency. The victims include close family members of the groom, including his father and brother.
The attack, which occurred in the volatile central region of Plateau State, adds to growing concerns over worsening violence in the area. Survivors and local organizations report that the wedding convoy, comprising around 30 people, lost its way and stopped to ask for directions in the Mangu local government area. Instead of receiving help, they were met by a hostile crowd.
Armed with sticks, machetes, and stones, the mob launched a vicious assault, according to eyewitnesses. One survivor told AFP that the attackers not only beat passengers but also set their vehicle on fire. Initially, officials reported eight deaths and four missing, but the toll has since risen.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu condemned the incident, describing the attack as both “unacceptable and barbaric.” In a strongly worded statement, he called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators and tasked Plateau State authorities with taking “decisive action” to address the recurring violence in the region.
“These killings are senseless and must stop,” Tinubu’s statement read. “We cannot allow a culture of impunity and hatred to flourish. I call upon all leaders—traditional, religious, and political—to promote peace and unity.”
A Region on Edge
Plateau State has long been a hotspot for sectarian conflict, especially between ethnic Fulani Muslim herders and Christian farming communities. The two groups have clashed for decades over access to land, grazing routes, and dwindling natural resources.
In recent days, the region has witnessed a spike in violence. Suspected Fulani herders were blamed for attacks that killed dozens of people across Mangu. This latest tragedy further underscores the fragile security situation in the region.
While authorities have yet to determine the exact motivation for the mob attack on the wedding bus, analysts suggest it may be part of a larger cycle of retaliatory violence exacerbated by deep ethnic and religious divisions.
Arrests and Government Response
Police confirmed that 22 suspects have already been arrested in connection with the attack, and investigations are ongoing. Law enforcement agencies say they are committed to bringing justice to the victims and restoring calm.
Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang also condemned the killings and promised that his administration would cooperate fully with federal authorities. He appealed for calm and warned citizens against taking the law into their own hands.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of innocent lives. These were guests heading to a wedding. Such cruelty is inhumane,” the governor said.
Local human rights organizations and religious leaders have called for urgent reconciliation efforts, warning that without swift justice and peacebuilding, the state risks descending into further chaos.
A Plea for Peace
Religious and civil society groups across Nigeria have urged communities to embrace dialogue and tolerance.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Nigeria’s top Muslim cleric, and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) both issued statements calling for restraint and unity.
“Violence only begets more violence. It is time to break this cycle and embrace peace,” CAN said.
As families mourn their dead, pressure is mounting on both state and federal authorities to end what many fear is becoming a resurgence of sectarian violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
