The Plateau State Government on Thursday arraigned four men arrested by the DSS over the April 2026 Angwa Rukuba killings, as two Jos High Courts remanded the suspects in DSS custody till April 30.
Justices Danladi Longden and Gegeliah Fwomyon, sitting in Courts 9 and 12, ordered the remand after the state filed terrorism and homicide charges.
Three defendants — Isa Umar Ibrahim, Auwalu Abubakar aka Auwalu Dogo, and Musa Abubakar Ibrahim aka Yaroro — face charges of criminal conspiracy to commit terrorism. The state alleges they planned and funded the March 28, 2025 attack in Farin Gada, Jos North, which left over 30 people dead.
A fourth defendant, Adamu Isa Alhassan, was arraigned in Court 9 on separate counts of criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide punishable by death, illegal possession of firearms, and illegal arms dealing. Prosecutors linked him to attacks between January 2025 and January 2026 in Riyom and Jos South LGAs.
All four were arrested by the DSS between April 3 and April 10, 2026. A fifth suspect, Ado Ibrahim, is still at large.
State Attorney General Philemon Audu Daffi, leading the prosecution, said the offences contravene Sections 269 and 270 of the Plateau State Penal Code Law, 2017.
The arraignment follows President Bola Tinubu’s visit to Jos earlier this month, where he met victims and promised justice. “We are optimistic that ongoing interventions will help restore lasting peace,” Tinubu said.
The March 28, 2025 attack hit communities in Bokkos and Bassa LGAs and environs, killing at least 30, including children. Calls followed to cancel the “Experience Plateau, Arts Meets Fashion” event, but Governor Caleb Mutfwang refused.
“Last week, Bokkos… came under renewed attack by murderers who are desperate to break our spirit,” Mutfwang said. “Many advised that we suspend this function, but we realized that these attackers intend to keep us in perpetual mourning… I said no! Life must go on.”
The governor described the killings as “genocide” not farmer-herder conflict, urging the international community “to take note.”
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