12 Killed, 19 Injured as Plateau Youths Mistake Wedding Guests for Bandits in Deadly Mangu Ambush

12 innocent travelers were killed and 19 others seriously injured on Friday evening when a group of armed youths attacked a passenger bus in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State. The victims were en route to Qua’an Pan Local Government Area to attend a wedding ceremony when they were ambushed and slaughtered.

Eyewitnesses and local authorities say the assailants, believed to be local vigilante youths, mistook the passengers for bandits — a deadly error that turned a peaceful wedding trip into a massacre. The attackers reportedly blocked the road, forced the passengers out of the vehicle, and began shooting and attacking them with machetes and sticks.

A survivor, Musa Abubakar, who managed to escape with severe injuries, said:

“They stopped us and began shouting that we were bandits. We kept telling them we were just going for a wedding in Qua’an Pan, but they didn’t listen. They started beating and shooting people. I saw people die before my eyes.”

The victims, mostly from northern communities within Plateau State, were traveling in a commercial bus when the attack occurred near Panyam village, a volatile area within Mangu LGA that has seen increased tensions and security concerns in recent months.

The Plateau State Police Command confirmed the incident and reported that 12 people died on the spot, while 19 others are currently receiving treatment at various hospitals in Jos. A joint military and police team has since been deployed to the area.

Police spokesperson DSP Alfred Alabo told journalists:

“We have begun a full investigation. This is a very unfortunate incident. We urge residents to remain calm and not take the law into their own hands.”

Initial findings suggest the attackers had received false information that armed bandits were moving through the area, leading to the deadly misjudgment. However, human rights groups and affected families are blaming local vigilante groups for acting recklessly without proper intelligence.

The Kaduna and Plateau State Governments have both condemned the attack, with Kaduna officials demanding the arrest of the killers and warning that “no excuse will be accepted for this kind of lawlessness.”

Community leaders in Qua’an Pan, where the wedding was scheduled to take place, described the attack as “a shameful stain on Plateau’s hospitality” and called for justice.

“They were our guests. They came in peace, dressed for joy. Now we are preparing for 12 funerals,” said Chief Dakat Bala, a local traditional ruler.

The incident has reignited debates over the rising influence of ethnic vigilante groups and the state’s inability to curb extra-judicial killings, especially in areas with longstanding communal tensions.

Social media has been flooded with outrage and sorrow, with many Nigerians calling on the federal government to immediately disband unauthorized vigilante groups and ensure strict accountability.

As of Saturday morning, security has been tightened in Mangu and surrounding local government areas. Travelers have been urged to exercise caution and avoid night movements in volatile zones.