A Plateau State High Court on Thursday ordered the remand of four suspects in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) over the March 2026 killings in Angwa Rukuba community, located in Jos North Local Government Area. The case was adjourned until April 30, 2026, for formal arraignment.
The suspects were not arraigned as scheduled due to the absence of defence counsel. During the court session, they requested more time to secure legal representation.
The violence, which occurred on March 28, reportedly left at least 30 people dead, including children, after suspected attackers struck communities in Bokkos and Bassa Local Government Areas.
Following the incident, Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, condemned the attacks, describing them as deliberate attempts to destabilise the state. He insisted that normal life must continue despite the tragedy, while also characterising the killings as genocide and calling for international attention.
President Bola Tinubu, who visited the state earlier in April, met with victims and assured residents that justice would be served, expressing confidence that ongoing security efforts would help restore peace.
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The four suspects listed in court include Isa Umar Ibrahim, Auwalu Abubakar (also known as Auwalu Dogo), and Musa Abubakar Ibrahim (also known as Yaroro), among others. They are accused of conspiring to carry out the attack and face charges related to terrorism and criminal conspiracy.
According to the Plateau State Government, the suspects were arrested by the DSS between April 3 and April 10, 2026. The charges, filed by the State Attorney General, allege that they planned, organised, and supported the attack, which led to multiple deaths.
During proceedings, the prosecution counsel and Solicitor General of Plateau State, Joel Tagven, did not oppose the request for adjournment but asked the court to keep the suspects in DSS custody to allow continued investigation. The request was granted by the presiding judge, Justice Gidelia FomYom.
The court subsequently fixed April 30, 2026, for the suspects’ arraignment. They were later escorted from the court premises to a DSS facility.
