The Plateau State Police Command on Thursday arraigned 22 suspected killers of wedding travelers who were reportedly killed in Mangun community of Mangu local government area of Plateau State.
The victims, comprising 32 men, women, and children, were traveling in an 18-seater bus from Basawa community in Sabon Gari LGA, Kaduna State, to attend a wedding ceremony when they ran into the assailants.
Thirteen of the travellers were killed, while many others were injured in the attack by suspected mobs while on their way to Qua community in Qua’an Pan LGA of Plateau.
The prosecuting counsel, S.I. Ikutanwa, who arraigned the suspects before the state’s high court sought the court’s permission for the suspects to take their plea on the four-count charges.
The defense counsel, Garba Pwul, objected to the plea application, citing that two of the 22 suspects were minors, which rendered the charges incompetent.
He submitted that the two suspects in question were 13 and 17 years old, and the law does not allow minors to be exposed to such proceedings.
The defense counsel prayed the court for time to file an objection.
The prosecuting counsel argued that since two of the suspects were below 18 years, their names should be removed, 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 today, excluding the minors.
Justice Ngyon ordered the accused persons to be remanded in police custody and adjourned the case to Friday, July 11, 2025, to enable the prosecutor amend the charges.
