The trial of 22 suspects arrested by the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) in connection with the June 20, 2025 mob action in Mangun community of Mangu local government area of Plateau State, has been adjourned to Friday, July 11 to enable the prosecuting counsel amend the charges brought against the suspects.
The suspects were arraigned before the State High Court in Jos, the State capital.
The Prosecuting counsel, S.I. Ikutanwa, sought the court’s permission for the suspects to take their plea on the four-count charges.
However, the defence counsel, Garba Pwul, objected to the plea application, citing that two of the 22 suspects were minors, which rendered the charges incompetent.
According to the defence counsel, the two suspects in question were 13 and 17 years old, respectively, and the law does not allow minors to be exposed to such proceedings. He, therefore, asked the court for time to file an objection.
Responding to the defence counsel’s position, the prosecuting counsel argued that since two of the suspects were below 18 years, their names should be expunged, and the remaining 20 suspects be allowed to take their plea.
The presiding judge, Justice Boniface Ngyon, ruled that it was safer not to take their plea on Thursday, instead, an amended plea would be taken on Friday, excluding the minors.
Justice Ngyon, therefore, ordered the accused persons to be remanded in police custody and adjourned the case to Friday, July 11, 2025, to enable the prosecutor to amend the charges.
It will be recalled that 22 suspects were arrested as a result of mob action, which led to the killing of 13 wedding guests in Mangun community of Mangu local government area of Plateau State. The victims were on their way to Qua’an Pan LGA of Plateau state for a wedding ceremony.
The victims, comprising of 32 men, women, and children, were travelling in a bus belonging to Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) from Basawa community of Zaria in Kaduna State.
Several others sustained injuries following the attack.
Meanwhile, the State’s Commissioner of Police, CP Emmanuel Olugbemiga Adesina, has assured the good and peace loving people of the State that the Command under his leadership was doing everything within the ambits of the law to ensure that all those involved in the perpetration of the evil and inhuman act were arrested and made to face the full weight of the law.
The CP gave the assurance while addressing journalists at the Police Command headquarters in Jos .
He called on all Plateau residents, especially the youths, to avoid taking laws into their hands, and report suspicious activities to the nearest Police Station or any other security agency.
