A Plateau State High Court has ordered the remand of four suspects in the custody of the Department of State Services over their alleged involvement in the March 2026 killings in Angwa Rukuba, Jos North Local Government Area.
The defendants—Isa Umar Ibrahim, Auwalu Abubakar (also known as Auwalu Dogo), and Musa Abubakar Ibrahim (also known as Yaroro), among others—were arraigned before Justice Gidelia Fom-Yom on charges bordering on criminal conspiracy and terrorism.
The charges were instituted by the Plateau State Attorney General, Philemon Daffi, under the provisions of the Penal Code Law of Plateau State, 2017.
During proceedings, the charges were read to the defendants through an interpreter, after which they pleaded not guilty to all counts.
The prosecution alleged that the accused persons conspired to carry out coordinated attacks that led to significant loss of life across several communities.
The incident, which occurred on March 28, reportedly claimed the lives of at least 30 people, including children, in the Angwa Rukuba area of Jos North.
READ ALSO:Â Troops Nab Fake Security Officers, Foil Attacks In Plateau
The court adjourned the matter to May 8, 2026, following an application by defence counsel, who requested additional time to consult with their clients, stating that they were meeting the defendants for the first time on the day of arraignment.
A dispute arose over the custody of the suspects, with the defence team advocating their transfer to a correctional facility to allow easier legal access.
However, the state maintained that the suspects should remain in DSS custody due to the ongoing nature of investigations into the terrorism-related charges.
In her ruling, Justice Fom-Yom held that the gravity of the allegations warranted the continued detention of the defendants by the DSS. She, however, directed authorities to grant the defence team adequate access to their clients.
Speaking after the session, the Attorney General reiterated the need for strict custody measures given the seriousness of the charges, while lead defence counsel, Mustapha Saliu, expressed satisfaction with the court’s directive and affirmed the team’s commitment to due process as the case proceeds.