“Immediately I heard the gunshots, I bent down” – Lone survivor of Plateau bus attack narrates how he narrowly escaped d3ath

Nasiru Garba, the only survivor of the commercial bus attack in Kuru community, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, has narrated how he escaped d3ath when gunmen opened fire on the vehicle.

Nine passengers were k!lled in the attack at Dungus Junction on Sunday after the bus driver stopped to drop off some passengers.

Residents told journalists that the bus, which was heading to Jos, came under attack shortly after the driver parked at the junction.

The vehicle was stained with blood and riddled with bullets after the attack.

Garba, the bus conductor, said all eight passengers and the driver were k!lled.

“We parked by the roadside and dropped off five passengers. After they disembarked, the driver got off the bus to collect the transport fare,” he narrated.

“I was in front of the bus waiting for the driver. Just as the driver opened the door to enter, the gunmen opened fire on those passengers who had disembarked. All of them and those in the vehicle, including the driver, were shot d3ad.

“Immediately I heard the gunshots, I bent down. The attackers approached the bus, opened the front door and searched my body. They took all the money and my phone, which was being charged.

“They didn’t talk while carrying out the act, and I didn’t look at their faces.”

Garba described the attack as terrible, saying he was confused when the incident happened.

He said it was only his fourth day working as a bus conductor.

Lawan Suleiman, a neighbour and teacher of one of the victims, said the driver, Ibrahim Bala Gile, was his former student.

“The driver is Ibrahim, and he was my student. Three of them are from our community here in Bukuru. Their bodies have been deposited at the hospital. But relatives are preparing to collect them for burial,” he said.

The spokesman of the Berom Youth Moulders (BYM), Rwang Tengwong, also confirmed the incident, saying the victims were passengers travelling to Jos when the attackers opened fire on their vehicle.

“The victims were all passengers travelling to Jos when gunmen opened fire on the vehicle. Among those k!lled was a member of Operation Rainbow. It is a very sad development, and we lament the loss of lives,” he said.

According to him, some of the passengers sustained gunshot wounds and were rushed to hospitals, where some later d!ed.

Relatives of the victims described the attack as devastating, saying the loss of their loved ones was painful and would not be forgotten.

Rwang Tengwong, who lost his in-law in the attack, condemned the incident and called on the authorities to take decisive measures against those who carried out the attack.

He explained that eight Christians and one Muslim were k!lled.

He urged both Christians and Muslims to unite against attacks of any kind.

“These attackers are becoming more violent and are no longer selecting their targets based on tribe or religion,” he said.

Bala Isah, the driver’s father, said he was saddened by the incident.

“We were together earlier on the day of the attack,” he said.

He said Ibrahim had closed for work that day but later received a call that there were passengers who wanted to travel.

He decided to go out again, but on his way back, he met his death.

The father said his son was the breadwinner of the family.

“That day, he even asked me what he should buy for me, but he never returned,” he said.

He called on the government to intensify security measures to prevent such k!llings and stop the attendant violence.

Jama Samuel, a youth leader in the Kuru Sabon Layi area, described the attack as cruel and frequent, saying gunmen often hide around the area and k!ll innocent people.

The youth leader identified the victims as Mafeng Dangana, 25; Victoria Ishaku, 47; Joy Felix, 25; Precious Dabere, 23; Isaac Gyang, 20; Usaini Badamasi, 20; Ibrahim Bala, 28; Evelyn Micha; and Esther Iliya.

“Before Sunday’s attack, gunmen had k!lled three people last week, and just last (Sunday) night they k!lled nine people also. It’s been a while now that we have been having such attacks,” he said. 

“Even women were k!lled in the attack, while the injured ones are still in the hospital.

“Upon our arrival at the scene of the incident, we called the Chief Security Officer to the governor and immediately, he came and we remained there till the next day.

“Women and youths were angry over the k!lling and wanted to block the road, but we were able to prevent them,” Samuel said.

The youth leader, however, called on the state government to intensify efforts to prevent further bloodshed, noting that the attack affected both Christians and Muslims.

Meanwhile, the Divisional Police Officer of Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, Yusuf S., has appealed to herders to shun retaliation, saying such action will not help restore peace.

According to the DPO, security forces, including the police, are trying their best to maintain law and order despite the rising violence.

He urged all parties to support them in achieving peaceful coexistence.

Yusuf made the appeal while addressing mourners during the burial of three herders at the Mangu Cemetery.

The herders were k!lled on Saturday while they were tending to their cattle around Alonghome community, Mangu LGA. About 50 cattle were k!lled in the incident.

“Two wrongs cannot make a right. Whatever is damaged requires repairs. If people continue to engage in reprisals, we will never live in peace.

“Therefore, I am appealing to you to shun reprisal. Let us come together and live in peace. Taking laws into our hands is not good. We must allow security agencies to do their jobs.”

“The police and other security agencies would do everything possible to fish out those responsible for the k!lling,” he said.