Plateau Bus Attack: I Hid Inside Bus As Gunmen Kill 13 –Lone Survivor

The lone survivor of the Dungus Junction attack in Plateau State, Nasiru Garba, has recounted how he escaped death by hiding inside a commercial bus after gunmen opened fire, as separate attacks in Jos South, Mangu and Riyom local government areas left 13 people dead.

Garba, who was the conductor of the bus, said the attackers opened fire on passengers who had alighted and those still inside the vehicle after it stopped at Dungus Junction, Kuru, on Sunday night.

He said the bus had stopped by the roadside to drop five passengers, after which the driver got down to collect transport fares while Garba remained in front of the bus waiting for him.

“We parked by the roadside and dropped off five passengers. After they alighted, the driver got down to collect the transport fare.

“I was in front of the bus waiting for the driver. Immediately the driver opened the door to enter, the gunmen opened fire on the passengers who had alighted and those inside the bus.

“All the passengers that had already alighted, the remaining passengers in the bus, and the driver died,” he said.

Garba said he immediately bent down inside the vehicle after hearing the gunshots, adding that the attackers later approached the bus and opened the front door.

He said he survived while the attackers searched him, but they took his money and phone, which was charging at the time.

“They collected all the money with me and my phone that was being charged. They didn’t talk while carrying out the act and I didn’t look at their faces,” he said.

“I am new on the job. This was just my fourth day working as a bus conductor.”

The attack was one of several incidents recorded in Plateau State on Sunday night, with nine people, including eight passengers and the driver, killed at Dungus Junction. Two people were also killed at Vodni in Pushit District of Mangu Local Government Area, while two others were killed at Tahoos in Riyom Local Government Area.

Confirming the Dungus Junction attack, spokesman of the Berom Youth Moulders, BYM, Rwang Tengwong, said the incident occurred at about 9:40 p.m. as passengers travelled to Jos.

“The victims were all passengers travelling to Jos when the terrorists opened fire on the vehicle,” he said.

“Among those killed was a member of Operation Rainbow. It is a very sad development and we lament the loss of lives.”

Tengwong added that some of the passengers sustained gunshot wounds and were rushed to hospitals, where some reportedly later died.

A resident of the community, Musa Dauda, also confirmed the attack, saying some injured passengers were taken to hospital but some died while receiving treatment.

“The commercial bus was later found stained with blood and riddled with bullets,” he said.

Meanwhile, suspected terrorists reportedly attacked Vodni in Pushit District of Mangu Local Government Area during the night, killing two people and injuring four others.

The injured victims were reportedly receiving treatment at a hospital in Mangu town.

Similarly, two people were killed at Tahoos in Riyom Local Government Area in a separate attack around the same period.

Reacting to the incidents, the Plateau State Government condemned the attacks, describing the reported killings in Mangu and the Kuru incident as deeply disturbing.

In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joyce Ramnap, the government said it remained committed to strengthening the state’s security architecture in collaboration with security agencies, traditional institutions, community leaders and other stakeholders.

The government appealed to residents, particularly those in communities affected by insecurity, to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible and timely information that could help prevent attacks and apprehend perpetrators.

It also urged citizens to resist reprisal attacks, warning that such actions could further escalate violence and undermine peace-building efforts.

“Under the leadership of Governor Caleb Mutfwang, the Plateau State Government remains committed to peace as a priority,” the statement added.