Twelve Kaduna travelers were brutally lynched in Plateau while en route to a wedding ceremony.
Governor Uba Sani demands justice and urges calm as outrage spreads across the nation.
Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has condemned the killing of 12 Kaduna indigenes who were lynched in a mob attack in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, calling for swift justice and urging security agencies to arrest and prosecute all those involved.
The victims, part of a 31-member group from the Basawa community in Zaria, Kaduna State, were en route to Qua’an Pan LGA in Plateau for a wedding ceremony when they were attacked. Traveling in an 18-seater bus owned by Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, the group reportedly lost their way and stopped in Mangu to ask for directions. Unfortunately, they were mistaken for threats and mobbed.
According to reports, 12 people were killed in the attack, while 11 others sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving treatment at Mangu General Hospital.
Reacting to the tragic development, Governor Sani issued a statement on Saturday describing the incident as “barbaric, senseless, and utterly unjustifiable,” emphasizing that no Nigerian should be attacked or killed for simply travelling within their own country.
“This is a heinous and cowardly act. There is no excuse, religious, ethnic, or otherwise, that justifies the killing of innocent citizens,” Governor Sani said. “Those responsible for this despicable act must be identified, arrested, and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
The governor also extended his condolences to the families of the victims and assured them of the Kaduna State Government’s full support, including medical attention for the injured and welfare assistance for the bereaved.
“I am in direct contact with the families of the deceased and will do everything possible to ease their pain,” he stated.
Governor Sani further urged residents of Kaduna State to remain calm and not take the law into their own hands, noting that retaliatory violence would only worsen the situation.
“I understand the pain and anger that this incident has caused, but I plead with the people of Kaduna to remain peaceful and law-abiding. We must allow justice to take its course,” he appealed.
In his message to the Plateau State Government, Sani called on Governor Caleb Mutfwang to intensify security efforts and ensure that such tragic incidents do not occur again.
“I urge my brother, Governor Mutfwang, to act decisively and bring all those responsible for this act of mob violence to justice. The security architecture in Plateau must be strengthened to prevent future occurrences,” he said.
Governor Sani also promised to personally monitor the investigation and prosecution process to ensure that the perpetrators face justice. He reiterated that the era of impunity must end and that a strong message must be sent across the country that mob justice and extra-legal killings will not be tolerated.
Human rights groups and civil society organizations have also condemned the attack, calling for urgent reforms to address rising cases of communal violence, mistrust, and mob actions that continue to claim innocent lives.
The tragic event has reignited concerns over safety and interstate relations in Nigeria, particularly in conflict-prone areas where suspicion and ethnic tensions remain high.
As investigations continue, the hope remains that justice will be served swiftly and measures will be taken to ensure that no Nigerian faces such a fate simply for travelling within their own country.
