THE Plateau State High Court 10 sitting in Jos has remanded 20 suspects accused of killing wedding guests in Mangun community, Mangu Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
13 of the travellers were killed, while many others injured in the attack by suspected mobs while on their way to Kwa community in Qua’an Pan LGA of Plateau.
The victims, comprising 32 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 when they ran into the assailants in the area.
On Thursday, the State Police Command had arraigned 22 suspects in connection with the killing of the wedding guests.
However, the court did not permit them to enter their plea due to an objection raised by the defense counsel, Garba Pwol.
Pwol noted that two minors, aged 13 and 17, were among the suspects in the charges, arguing that they should not be exposed to such proceedings. The court subsequently directed the prosecuting counsel to amend the charges to exclude the two minors.
After excluding the two minors from the 22 suspects, the state police command rearraigned 20 of the suspects on Friday to take their plea.
Appearing on behalf of the police command, Samuel Idowu Ikutanwa, Officer-in-Charge of legal matter, read a four counts charge against the accused including criminal conspiracy, causing grievous bodily harm, culpable homicide and killing and burning of 13 people on the 20th of June, 2025, contrary to sections 59 of the Penal code, section 220, 313 and 187 of the Plateau State law cap 2017, respectively.
According to the prosecution, the defendants allegedly conspired to commit the offenses and armed themselves with dangerous weapons including firearms, cutlasses, machetes, and petrol.
All the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Responding after the accused took their plea, the prosecutor said that since they had pleaded not guilty to all the four-count charges, the court should adjourn the suit for case management and seek a custodial order to remand the accused in Jos Correctional Centre.
The defense counsel, Garuba Pwul, SAN, did not oppose the application but instead filed a motion for bail.
However, the prosecutor opposed to the application, arguing that he was just served with the application and the law says for seven days to respond.
Justice Boniface Ngyong ruled that the application could not stand, considering the objections raised by the prosecution.
He adjourned the substantive suit to August 13, 2025, and ordered that the accused be remanded at the Jos Correctional Centre.