By Kazeem Waris
Those were the words of Nasiru Garba, the lone survivor of a deadly attack on a commercial bus at Dungus Junction, Kuru community, in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, as he recounted how he escaped after gunmen opened fire on passengers travelling to Jos.
Garba, a conductor on the bus, said the attackers killed the driver and all the passengers who were in and around the vehicle when the shooting began.
The incident occurred at about 9:30pm after the bus stopped by the roadside to drop off five passengers.
According to Garba, the passengers had just alighted when the driver stepped down to collect their transport fares.
He said the gunmen suddenly opened fire as the driver attempted to return to the vehicle.
“We parked by the roadside and dropped off five passengers. After they alighted, the driver got down to collect the transport fare.
“I was in front of the bus waiting for the driver. Immediately the driver opened the door to enter, the gunmen opened fire on those passengers who had alighted and those inside the bus.
“All the passengers that had already alighted, the remaining passengers in the bus, and the driver died.
“Immediately I heard the gunshots, I bent down in the vehicle. The attackers approached the bus and opened the front door.”
Garba said the attack was sudden and terrifying, leaving him confused as the gunmen continued shooting around the vehicle.
The commercial bus was later found at the scene with blood stains and multiple bullet holes, according to findings by our correspondent.
The survivor said he believed he escaped because he immediately went down inside the vehicle when he heard the first shots, apparently avoiding the attention of the attackers.
He said the incident was particularly traumatic because he had only started working as a commercial bus conductor four days earlier.
“I am new on the job. This was just my fourth day working as a bus conductor,” he said.
The attack has heightened concerns over the safety of passengers and commercial transport operators travelling along the route at night, particularly amid recurring security challenges in parts of Plateau State.
