Plateau: Wedding-bound bus ambushed, 7 killed in Mangu attack

What was meant to be a joyous journey ended in horror on Friday night, as suspected youths ambushed a commercial bus, killing at least seven passengers in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.

According to reports by security analyst Zagazola Makama, the violent incident occurred around 9:47 p.m. on June 20, 2025, near the outskirts of Mangu. The 18-seater bus, which was transporting 28 passengers, was attacked while en route to Qua’an-Pan, a neighboring area in the state. The passengers were reportedly traveling from another state to attend a wedding ceremony.

The ambush quickly turned deadly, leaving several passengers injured and others traumatized. Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with the assailants opening fire on the bus and attacking its occupants without provocation.

“As the bus snaked its way through the darkening Plateau roads at around 9:47 p.m., it was suddenly ambushed. According to eyewitnesses, a group of irate youths from the community intercepted the vehicle near the outskirts of the town and what followed was a scene of chaos and unimaginable violence,” Makama said.

Seven passengers were killed instantly. One person was critically injured, and six others sustained various degrees of injuries. The attackers subsequently set the bus ablaze, leaving behind a charred shell as a grim reminder of the assault.

Amid the violence, local leaders intervened, rescuing 14 passengers who escaped unharmed. Their swift action is believed to have prevented further loss of life.

Security sources confirmed that tactical teams have since been deployed to the area. However, as of the time of filing this report, neither the police nor the military had issued an official statement on the incident.