The Plateau State Police Command, Thursday, arraigned 22 suspects who allegedly mobbed and murdered wedding travelers in Mangun community of Mangu Local Government Area of the state.
The victims, comprising 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 in Qua’anpan in Plateau State when they ran into the blood-baying assailants.
In the process, 13 of the travellers were murdered in cold blood, while many others were injured.
While arraigning the suspects before the State High Court, Thursday, the prosecuting counsel, S.I. Ikutanwa, slammed a four-count charge against them and sought the court’s permission for the suspects to take their plea.
However, the defense counsel, Garba Pwol objected to the plea application, citing that two of the 22 suspects were minors, which rendered the charges incompetent.
The defense counsel maintained that the two suspects in question were 13 and 17 years old respectively, and the law forbids minors to be exposed to such proceedings. He, therefore, asked the court for time to file his objection.
But 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 made to take their plea.
However, the presiding judge, Justice Boniface Ngyon, ruled that it was safer not to take their plea at Thursday’s sitting, preferring an amended plea to be taken on Friday (today), excluding the minors.
Consequently, Justice Ngyon ordered the accused persons to be remanded in police custody and adjourned the case to today, Friday, July 11, 2025 to enable the prosecutor amend the charges.