A Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos on Thursday ordered the remand of four suspects in the custody of the Department of State Services over the March killings in Angwa Rukuba community, in Jos North Local Government Area.
The suspects were not arraigned as scheduled due to the absence of defence counsel, prompting the court to adjourn proceedings till April 30, 2026.
The tragic attacks, which occurred on March 28, had left at least 30 persons, including children, dead after gunmen invaded communities in Bokkos and Bassa local government areas.
Presiding judge, Justice Gidelia FomYom, granted the prosecution’s request for the suspects to remain in DSS custody pending their formal arraignment.
The defendants—Isa Umar Ibrahim, Auwalu Abubakar, also known as Auwalu Dogo, Musa Abubakar Ibrahim, also known as Yaroro, and another—are facing charges bordering on criminal conspiracy and terrorism-related offences.
According to the charge filed by the Plateau State Government through the Attorney General, the suspects allegedly conspired to plan and execute the deadly attack in Angwa Rukuba, which resulted in multiple fatalities.
When the matter came up, the accused, through an interpreter, sought an adjournment to enable them secure legal representation of their choice.
The Solicitor General of Plateau State, Joel Tagven, did not oppose the request but urged the court to remand the suspects in DSS custody to allow continued investigation.
Granting the application, the court held that the adjournment was necessary to ensure fair hearing, while also directing that the suspects remain in custody.
The suspects were subsequently escorted out of the courtroom under heavy security to a DSS facility.
The prosecution disclosed that the suspects were arrested between April 3 and April 10, 2026, following intensified investigations into the attacks.
Reacting to the development, Plateau State authorities commended Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what they described as support for local prosecution of terrorism-related cases, noting that such trials were previously conducted outside the state.
Earlier, Governor Caleb Mutfwang had condemned the killings, describing them as an attempt to destabilise the state and insisting that the violence must not derail peace efforts.
The case is expected to resume on April 30 for the formal arraignment of the suspects.