JOS: A commercial bus conductor, Nasiru Garba, has recounted how he survived a deadly Plateau bus attack in which nine people, including eight passengers and the driver, were killed while travelling to Jos.
Garba, described as the lone survivor of the attack at Dungus Junction in Kuru, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, said he escaped death by quickly lying low inside the vehicle as the attackers opened fire.
The attack occurred on Sunday night amid a series of deadly incidents reported in parts of Jos South, Mangu and Riyom local government areas.
According to reports, 13 people were killed in the separate attacks, while several others sustained gunshot injuries.
Recounting the incident, Garba said the bus had stopped by the roadside to drop off five passengers.
He said the driver stepped out to collect fares from the passengers who had just alighted before returning to the vehicle.
Garba said he was standing near the front of the bus when the attackers suddenly opened fire.
The gunmen reportedly shot at passengers who had already left the vehicle as well as those still inside.
Garba said the passengers and the driver were killed in the attack, while he survived after immediately bending down inside the bus.
He explained that the attackers subsequently approached the vehicle and opened the front door but did not discover that he was hiding inside.
Garba said the attackers searched him but did not speak to him or reveal their identities.
According to him, they took the money in his possession and his mobile phone, which was charging at the time.
He said he deliberately avoided looking at their faces because he feared for his life.
The conductor also disclosed that he was only four days into the job when the tragedy occurred. I am new on the job. This was just my fourth day working as a bus conductor,” he said.
The spokesman of the Berom Youth Moulders, Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the incident and said it occurred at about 9:40 p.m.
Tengwong said the victims were passengers travelling to Jos when the attackers opened fire on the vehicle.
He added that a member of Operation Rainbow was among those killed.
Some passengers who sustained gunshot wounds were taken to hospitals for treatment, although some reportedly died from their injuries.
A resident, Musa Dauda, also confirmed the incident, saying the commercial bus was later found riddled with bullets and stained with blood.
The bus attack was not the only deadly incident recorded in Plateau State that night.
In Mangu Local Government Area, suspected attackers reportedly invaded Vodni in the Pushit District, killing two people and injuring four others.
The injured victims were taken to a hospital in Mangu town for treatment.
Similarly, two people were killed in a separate attack at Tahoos in Riyom Local Government Area.
The incidents have heightened concerns over renewed attacks and insecurity in parts of Plateau State.
The Plateau State Government condemned the attacks, describing the killings in Mangu and the Kuru area as deeply disturbing.
Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joyce Ramnap, said the government was working with security agencies, traditional institutions, community leaders and other stakeholders to strengthen the state’s security architecture.
The government also urged residents, particularly those in communities affected by insecurity, to remain vigilant and provide security agencies with credible and timely information that could help prevent further attacks and identify those responsible.
The latest violence has once again raised concerns about the safety of travellers and residents in parts of Plateau State, with calls for stronger security measures and improved intelligence gathering to prevent further loss of lives.
