How I Survived Plateau Mob Attack On Wedding Travelers — Survivor Speaks After His Friends Were K!lled

Abas Rufa’i, one of the wedding guests who survived the mob attack on Friday, June 20, in Mangun community, Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, has shared his harrowing experience, revealing how he narrowly escaped the violent crowd and managed to alert soldiers, leading to the rescue of other victims.
Rufa’i shared his experience with Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani during the governor’s visit to the injured victims at the 44 Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna.
Rufa’i was among 31 wedding guests attacked while travelling in a bus belonging to Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.
The group, consisting of men, women, and children from the Basawa-Anguwan Rimi community in Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State, was on the way to Qua’an Pan LGA for a wedding ceremony when they were attacked.
Rufa’i described his escape as miraculous. He said he was the first to alight from the bus to ask for directions after the driver had parked by the roadside. When he approached some people sitting nearby, he noticed hostility in their expressions, which made him realise he was not welcome, so he decided not to speak to them.
“When I turned back, I heard them say, ‘We should kill them all and burn the vehicle.’ Before we knew it, some of them began hitting the bus, prompting the driver to attempt a U-turn. But they had already barricaded the road with heavy stones and logs.
“Miraculously, I moved back slightly. I was wearing loose clothes with short trousers, so I quickly removed the gown without attracting attention. Gradually, I slipped away from the bus, which they had already set ablaze with the travellers still inside,” Rufa’i said.
He continued: “I saw an okada rider and asked him to take me to a police station. Since he didn’t know me, I told him I had a personal issue that needed police attention.”
While on the bike, he spotted soldiers at a checkpoint and asked the motorcyclist to stop.
“Before I could even pay the rider, he made a U-turn and returned to the community. I quickly approached the soldiers and informed them about the attack on my relatives in the village.”
The soldiers immediately mobilised and followed him to the scene, where they found the bus in flames. They managed to rescue about 18 people with various injuries, while others had already been k!lled.