Amnesty International has called on the Nigerian government to thoroughly investigate the brutal killing of at least 12 travelers by a mob in Mangu Local Government Area, Plateau State. The attack took place on Friday night when a mob ambushed an 18-seater bus carrying 31 passengers traveling from Basawa, Zaria Local Government Area in Kaduna State, to a wedding ceremony.
The bus, owned by Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, was intercepted around 8 p.m. Survivors reported that 12 passengers died instantly, and 11 others were injured and needed urgent medical care. In a statement posted on its official X account on Saturday, Amnesty International emphasized the need for a swift and fair investigation. The organization demanded that those responsible for the attack face justice. It also highlighted a similar incident in August 2021, when 22 commuters were killed along Rukuba Road in Jos North after attending an Islamic New Year event in Bauchi State.
Amnesty International warned that failing to punish perpetrators encourages further violence across Nigeria. The group urged authorities to ensure proper medical treatment for the injured and take strong measures to prevent such attacks in the future. It stressed that targeting travelers passing through a community is a serious crime that violates the right to life and disregards legal processes.
The organization called for more than just condemnation from the government, pressing for concrete actions to stop such incidents from happening again.
