The community of Anguwar Danbami in Kudan Local Government Area of Kaduna State has expressed concern over the decision of a court in Plateau State to grant bail to the suspected killers of their relatives.
At least 13 travellers from the Basawa community in Sabon Gari Local Government Area of Kaduna State were killed on June 12, and others were injured in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The victims, comprising 32 men, women, and children, were travelling in an 18-seater bus to attend a wedding ceremony in Kwa community in Qua’an Pan LGA of Plateau when they ran into the assailants in the area.
Ibrahim Umar, one of the survivors, narrated that, “We were heading to Qua’an Pan to attend a wedding ceremony of our brother when we missed the road because we didn’t know it. We stopped and asked some people for directions, but before we knew it, they surrounded the vehicle, shouting that we should be killed.
“They started beating and attacking us with dangerous weapons. The mob killed the driver first and then attacked others. They burned the bus with the corpses inside. We are now in the hospital, receiving care.”
The Kaduna State government had promised to follow up with the case and ensure that the victims get justice.
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, in a statement, had said, “I will personally follow up on the progress made in the investigations and field operations in search of the criminals. We must send a clear signal that impunity will no longer be tolerated.”
“All hands are on deck to ensure that our murdered citizens get justice. We have made remarkable progress in peacebuilding and conflict transformation in Kaduna State. The Kaduna Peace Model is a pointer to the fact that with political will, commitment, and sincerity of purpose, a toxic environment can be turned into an “oasis of peace”. The situation in Plateau State is not irredeemable. The bloodshed must stop.”
Suspects granted bail
A Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos granted bail to the 20 suspects allegedly involved in the killing of 13 wedding guests.
Daily Trust gathered that the bail was granted on Thursday, August 14, by Justice Nafisa Lawal Musa after hearing a motion presented by defence counsel, Garba Pwul (SAN).
The Nigeria Police, in Suit No. PLD/115CR/2025, arraigned the 20 suspects on a four-count charge of criminal conspiracy, mischief with dangerous weapons, culpable homicide, and causing grievous harm.
The police alleged that the suspects killed and burned 13 victims.
According to the prosecution, the charges contravene Sections 59, 220, 313, and 189 of the Plateau State Law, 2017.
During their arraignment, all the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Earlier in July, defence counsel had sought bail before Justice Boniface Ngyong but could not secure it due to time constraints as the court was about to proceed on vacation.
Justice Ngyong had then advised that the application be filed before a vacation judge and adjourned the matter to October 13, 2025.
In a court order dated August 14, 2025, and signed by the vacation judge, Justice Nafisa Musa, a motion on notice filed by the defence counsel on August 11 was considered.
The motion urged the court to take cognisance of the legal advice issued by the Director of Public Prosecution in the chambers of the Attorney-General of Plateau State.
Relying on the legal advice, the defence prayed the court to either discharge the applicants unconditionally or, in the alternative, order their immediate release pending the resumption of proceedings on October 13, 2025.
After hearing submissions from defence counsel Garba Pwul and I.S. Ikutanwa, who represented the respondents, Justice Musa granted the second motion as prayed.
She explained that the ruling was delivered in the spirit of transparency and without prejudice to High Court 10, which had earlier taken cognizance of the case and adjourned it to October 13, 2025.
Grounds based on motion on notice by defence counsel
In the motion on notice filed before High Court 7 on August 11, 2025, counsel to the applicants argued that the bail application was predicated on the fact that the Attorney-General of Plateau State, being the Chief Law Officer, through the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), had issued a legal advice absolving all the applicants of any culpability in relation to the offences contained in the charge under reference.
The advice, according to the counsel, recommended the termination of the charge against them.
The defence further argued that, pursuant to the constitutional powers of the Attorney-General exercised through the DPP, a directive had been issued that the prosecution in the case be discontinued.
Counsel Garba Pwul (SAN) stressed that the legal advice of the Attorney-General is binding on all prosecuting authorities, including the Commissioner of Police, who is the respondent in the matter.
On the strength of this advice, he maintained that it was both necessary and proper to terminate further proceedings in the case and discharge the applicants forthwith.
Victims’ families speak
Mallam Abdullahi Tahir Balami, a close friend of the deceased father of the groom, described the court’s decision as worrisome and suggested that foul play could not be ruled out in the handling of the case.
“We received this news with great shock because we were made to believe that justice would be done. But with this development, we are now seriously questioning the commitment to dispensing justice to our relatives. It is saddening that suspects in a homicide case can be granted bail by a court.
“Our state governor, when he came to console us in this village, promised to follow the case to the letter until justice is done. So, we are left wondering what is happening now.
“We, as families of the victims of the killing, appeal to the Kaduna State governor, Mallam Uba Sani, and leaders of the North to urgently intervene to ensure that justice is done,” he said.
Balami further explained that the community had been calmed by several leaders who visited them during their moment of grief and strongly advised them against taking the law into their own hands.
“And we obliged. We restrained ourselves because of those assurances. But this new development is shaking our faith in the process,” he added.
Another resident of the village, Mallam Ubale Anguwar Dantsoho, who lost family members in the attack, said the bail granted to the suspects came as a shock too.
“We are surprised by this unfolding situation. It is highly unfortunate that our deceased family members may not receive justice. From the way the case is going, we are becoming deeply concerned.
“I call on well-meaning Nigerians, irrespective of faith or belief, to ensure that justice is adequately and properly delivered to our loved ones,” he said.
Maryam Usman, the wife of the slain driver who conveyed the victims, also expressed shock and confusion over the bail granted to the suspects. She said she could not comprehend what such a decision meant.
“I don’t really understand what those court proceedings mean because I cannot imagine how suspected killers can be granted bail. What kind of court is that?” she asked.
Maryam said, “I am now a widow at a young age with children. Among the victims that were killed, only three were not married, all the others had wives and children who are now suffering from this loss.”
She recalled her worry since learning that two suspects were released earlier because they were considered underage, out of the 22 arrested.
“We have now been thrown into despair. Instead of hearing good news from the court, since that is where justice is supposed to be dispensed, the court went ahead to grant them bail.
“It means our hope has been dashed. We are not likely to receive justice over the loss of our loved ones,” she said.
The widow, however, appealed to the Kaduna State governor, Mallam Uba Sani, and other relevant authorities to intervene in the case to ensure that the aggrieved families are able to achieve justice.
Similarly, Alhaji Mustapha Ubaidullah, a traditional title holder in the Zazzau Emirate, the Marafan Yamman Zazzau, lamented the court’s decision to grant bail to the suspects.
The traditional ruler appealed to northern leaders to urgently intervene and ensure that justice is not denied.
We’re not carried along – Kaduna govt
The Kaduna State government has expressed displeasure over the handling of the prosecution of suspects linked to the killings of the wedding guests.
A source close to the government said the state was sidelined in the legal process as the state was not notified when the suspects were charged to court.
This, the source said, denied the Kaduna government the opportunity to send legal representatives to monitor the proceedings.
The source said, “Plateau State government didn’t carry Kaduna State along in the entire court process. Ideally, it should have notified us after charging the suspects to court so that we will send a legal representative to observe the proceedings. Plateau State government did not.
“In fact, it was a delegation of traditional rulers that came to the Emir of Zazzau’s palace to condole with the monarch over the murder of his people.
“The entourage did not deem it fit to even pay a courtesy call on Governor Uba Sani to condole with him and even brief him about what the Plateau State Government was doing.
“Kaduna State government has been in the dark since the cold-blooded murder took place. So, the granting of bail to the suspects came as a surprise to the government.
“However, Governor Uba Sani will not rest on his oars until the deceased gets justice.”
Bail not ordinarily granted in murder cases – Lawyers
Legal practitioners have clarified that bail is not ordinarily granted to defendants standing trial for murder charges.
Speaking on the matter, Ebuka Nwaeze Esq explained that in murder trials, which are treated as capital offences, defendants are generally not granted bail unless exceptional circumstances justify such a decision.
He noted that although he does not have access to the Plateau State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, the national law—Section 161 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2025—provides clear exceptions.
These include instances of ill health, extraordinary delays in prosecution, or any other circumstances the presiding judge may deem special enough to warrant bail.
Similarly, Hameed Ajibola Jimoh Esq said while bail is at the discretion of the court, it is typically granted in deserving cases as a constitutional right of the defendant—even without a formal application in some instances.
However, he said murder cases are an exception to this principle.
“In murder cases, bail is not granted as of right but only on stringent grounds, such as where the defendant suffers from a medical condition that the correctional facility cannot adequately cater for,” he said.
Case reminiscent to that of General Alkali
Daily Trust reports that in early September 2018, Retired Major General Idris Alkali was killed at Dura-Du in Jos South, Plateau State, after being stopped by youths at a blockade while travelling from Abuja to Bauchi.
And on September 29, 2018, the army drained a mining pond at Dura-Du and recovered Alkali’s Toyota Corolla, alongside two other vehicles and on October 26, 2018, the army said suspects led them to a shallow grave where Alkali was initially buried. His body was later exhumed and moved by community members.
On October 31, 2018, his remains were finally recovered from a well in Guchwet (Shen), Jos South, during a military operation, and thereafter, in November 2018, 19 suspects were arraigned before a Plateau State High Court on charges including conspiracy and culpable homicide.
However, the trial was stalled long after the suspects were granted bail in questionable circumstances, until in January 2025, when the then Garrison Commander in Plateau State, General U.I. Mohammed (who led the search of General Alkali) granted an interview to the Daily Trust calling on the federal government to take over the case.
The trial continued in a Jos High Court, with recent sessions and adjournments covered by this newspaper seven years after the incident.(Daily trust)
