Wedding guests killing: Plateau court grants bail to 20 suspects

Twenty suspects who were arrested in connection with the killing of 13 wedding guests in the Mangun community of Mangu Local Government Area, Plateau State, were on Wednesday, August 20th, granted bail by the State High Court.

The suspects were arrested following an attack on a 38-seater bus that was conveying the victims from Kaduna State to Qua’an Pan Local Government Area for a wedding ceremony on June 12, 2025.

According to police reports, the driver of the vehicle had missed the way, and when the vehicle got to Mangun, a community that had faced terrorist attacks, some youths mistook the travellers for bandits and attacked them, leading to the killing of the victims.

Consequently, 21 people were arrested over the violence, and in an earlier court appearance, 20 of the suspects were remanded at the Jos Correctional Center while the case was adjourned to August 20.

In the suit No. PLD/115CR/2025, the police arraigned the 20 suspects on a four-count charge of criminal conspiracy, mischief with dangerous weapons, culpable homicide, and causing grievous harm, for allegedly killing and burning 13 people, charges which the police said are contrary to Sections 59, 220, 313, and 189 of the Plateau State Law 2017, respectively.

When they were presented in court, they were granted bail by Justice Nafisa Lawal Musa after hearing a motion from defence counsel, Garba Pwul (SAN).

Counsel for the defendants, Garba Pwul and I.S. Ikutanwa, had earlier sought bail before Justice Boniface Ngyong but were unable to secure the bail due to the time constraint as the court was about to go on recess.

Following the appearance, a court order dated August 14, 2025, and signed by the vacation judge, Justice Musa, stated that a motion on notice was filed by the defence counsel on August 11, 2025.

The motion had also prayed the court to take cognizance of the legal advice issued by the Director of Public Prosecution in the chambers of the Attorney-General of Plateau State.

In presenting its motion, the defence counsel asked the court to discharge the applicants unconditionally or alternatively order the immediate release of the applicants pending resumption of proceedings on the adjourned date of October 13, 2025.

After hearing the defence counsel, Justice Musa granted the second motion as prayed for, granting bail to the suspects and adjourned the matter to October 13, 2025.

Wedding guests killing: Plateau court grants bail to 20 suspects