Nigerian police arrest 22 suspects after deadly bus attack

ABUJA, Nigeria — Police apprehended 22 individuals on Sunday in connection with a mob assault that resulted in the deaths of at least twelve people in central Nigeria two days ago.

A group of passengers in a bus was attacked in the Mangu area of Plateau state, as per a police report issued on Saturday. The passengers had journeyed from Zaria in Kaduna state, approximately 400 kilometers away from Mangu, and were en route to a wedding when the incident occurred on Friday night after they got lost.

Police stated that 21 individuals were rescued from the violent mob, with some passengers losing their lives, although further details were not provided. It is common for Nigeria’s federal police to report lower casualty figures compared to local authorities and eyewitnesses.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International reported that 12 individuals were killed instantly and 11 others sustained injuries during the attack.

“Authorities must ensure that those responsible for this heinous attack are brought to justice,” stated the rights group in a release on Saturday.

Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau urged law enforcement to ensure justice is served and to implement measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring again.

The north-central region of Nigeria has been experiencing escalating violence, largely due to conflicts between farmers and herders, as well as attacks on communities by armed groups.

Approximately 100 individuals were fatally shot in a village in Benue state just two weeks ago.