From Kenneth Udeh, Abuja
The Nigerian Senate at its Wednesday plenary strongly condemned the tragic killing of twelve innocent travelers from Zaria, Kaduna State, who were ambushed and murdered in Mangun District, Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, while en route to attend a wedding ceremony in Quan’Pan Local Government Area.
The motion, titled “Tragic Killing of 12 Wedding-Bound Travelers from Zaria, Kaduna State to Quan’Pan, Plateau State: Urgent Need to Address Rising Insecurity and Prevent Further Loss of Innocent Lives”, was sponsored by Senator Khalid Ibrahim Mustapha (Kaduna North) and considered on the floor of the Senate during Wednesday’s plenary.
In his lead debate, Senator Mustapha informed the Senate that;
“On Friday, June 21, 2025, at about 6:00 p.m., twelve (12) innocent travelers, journeying from Zaria, Kaduna State, to attend a wedding ceremony in Quan’Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State, tragically lost their lives in Mangun District of Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
“The victims were travelling in an official vehicle belonging to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, which departed from Zaria, Kaduna State but reportedly lost their way and inadvertently entered Mangu community, where they stopped to ask for direction to Quan’Pan.
“Soon after the request for direction, the heartless youths attacked them, killed twelve people, and set their vehicle ablaze.”
He expressed shock that a vehicle clearly marked with the name of a reputable institution like ABU Zaria could be mistaken for a threat and described the killings as part of a wider, recurring trend of violence against non-combatant civilians in Plateau and other states.
“The tragic killing of the innocent travelers in Plateau State is not an isolated incident but part of a disturbing and recurring pattern of unchecked violence over the years.
“Failure to take prompt, decisive and preventive action has emboldened non-state actors, normalized impunity, and created an atmosphere of fear and insecurity, he said.
Contributing to the motion, Senator Sunday Marshall Katung (Kaduna South) said;
“The inferences made in the memo on what transpired in Plateau is what the Bible describes as an eye for an eye.
“I also urge that a thorough investigation be conducted. If there is no punishment it will encourage others to carry out such activities.
“I urge the security agencies to be more vigilant because these things occur in isolated places and should deploy more security.”
Also speaking, Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) drew parallels between the Plateau killings and similar massacres in Benue and other areas;
“What we have today in Benue and Plateau is not different from what is happening in other parts of the country.
“Over the years we have been dealing with the same kind of killings and massacres along this axis. I am only happy that Mr President did what I have been harping on that the GCFR is the one that will deal with matters decisively.
“The IGP made some arrests, but if the President did not give a matching order, nothing would have happened. In Plateau, I think that what has happened is what happens in Benue.
“I recall Mr. Senate President, when you were the Minority Leader, in April 2018, 72 people were killed in Benue. Weeks later, 17 people were killed in a church, including priests.
“Action can be taken but through proper directives. We urged the President because the questions he asked his service chiefs put them on alert and we saw results. People who are doing this must know that they can’t keep doing it and get away with it.”
In an emotional reaction, Senate President Godswill Akpabio stated:
“What I saw on television saddened me. One death in any part of Nigeria afflicts all parts of Nigeria, even globally. The killers have no mercy, no empathy. To kill 200 people.
“These people were traveling in a marked bus named Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, and I don’t know how people will burn the bus. It’s like we are losing it.
“I don’t want to believe that the resurgence of insecurity in the country is not because of politics. Those who are financing these things will soon meet their end.”
The Senate in its resolutions; Condemned in the strongest terms the brutal killing of twelve innocent wedding-bound travelers in Mangun District of Mangu Local Government Area, Plateau State;
Commiserated with the families of the victims and the Government of Kaduna State over the tragic incident;
Mandated the Senate Committees on National Security and Intelligence, Police Affairs, and Defence to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and make appropriate recommendations to the Senate;
Urged the Government of Plateau State and the Federal Government to pay compensation to the families of the victims;
Called for the deployment of more security personnel including specialised units to vulnerable areas in Plateau State and other affected regions, with a focus on intelligence gathering, early warning systems, and rapid response and directed the Inspector General of Police to ensure the immediate arrest and prosecution of all those found culpable in this and other previous attacks on innocent civilians in Plateau State.
The Lawmakers also observed a minute of silence in honour of the twelve victims of the Mangun tragedy and other Nigerians who have lost their lives to similar acts of violence.