A Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos on Thursday ordered that four suspects be remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services over their alleged involvement in the March 28, 2026 killings in Angwan Rukuba community, Jos North Local Government Area.
The court also adjourned the case to April 30, 2026, for arraignment.
The suspects, Isa Umar Ibrahim; Auwalu Abubakar, also known as Auwalu Dogo; Musa Abubakar Ibrahim, also known as Yaroro; and another individual, were arrested by the DSS between April 3 and April 10, 2026.
They are facing charges of criminal conspiracy to commit terrorism and other related offences brought by the Plateau State Government.
The charge, signed by the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Philemon Daffi, alleged that the suspects “conspired amongst themselves to commit offences relating to terrorism when they planned, organised, facilitated, aided and contributed money to carry out the attack in Angwan Rukuba, which led to the death of over 30 persons.”
The offences are said to contravene Section 269 and are punishable under Section 270 of the Penal Code Law of Plateau State, 2017.
When the case came up before Justice Gidelia Damulak Fomyong in Court 12, Jos, the defendants, speaking through an interpreter, requested an adjournment to allow them secure legal representation of their choice.
Although the prosecution counsel and Plateau State Solicitor-General, Joel Tagven, did not object to the application, he urged the court to keep the suspects in DSS custody to ensure ease of access and continuity of investigation.
The judge granted the request and adjourned proceedings to April 30, 2026, for arraignment.
The suspects were thereafter taken back to the DSS facility in a bus.
Briefing journalists after the sitting, the Solicitor-General praised President Bola Tinubu for what he described as efforts that supported the prosecution process in the state.
He highlighted four key reasons for the commendation: the directive that led to the suspects’ arrest by the DSS; the instruction that they be prosecuted in Plateau State rather than transferred to Abuja as was previously done; approval for security equipment including CCTV cameras; and cooperation that enabled local handling of the prosecution.
The March 28 attacks across communities in Bokkos and Bassa LGAs, including Angwan Rukuba in Jos North, reportedly left at least 30 people dead, including children.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang condemned the incident, describing it as genocide rather than a farmer-herder clash, and vowed that “life must go on” and that violence in the state would be brought to an end.
President Tinubu, who visited Plateau State following the incident, also assured residents that justice would be served while urging continued vigilance.
