● Hearing adjourned to April 30 amid push for justice
In a decisive legal move following the deadly Angwar Rukuba violence, the Plateau State Government has arraigned four suspects accused of orchestrating the attack that left dozens dead in Jos North.
The men – Isa Umar Ibrahim, Auwalu Abubakar (popularly known as Auwalu Dogo), Musa Abubakar Ibrahim (alias Yaroro), and Adamu Isa Alhassan – were brought before separate High Courts in Jos on Thursday after their arrest by the Department of State Services (DSS) earlier this month.
Presiding over the proceedings, Justices Danladi Longden and Gegeliah Fwomyon ordered that the defendants remain in DSS custody pending further hearing, fixing April 30 for continuation of the case.
The state, led by Attorney General Philemon Audu Daffi, slammed the quartet with charges ranging from criminal conspiracy and terrorism to culpable homicide and unlawful possession of firearms under the Plateau State Penal Code Law, 2017.
Court filings allege that three of the suspects played central roles in planning and financing the Angwar Rukuba attack as far back as March 2025 – coordinating resources and logistics that culminated in the killing of over 30 residents.
Adamu Isa Alhassan, who was arraigned separately, faces additional accusations tied to a string of violent assaults across communities in Riyom and Jos South. Prosecutors claim he and several accomplices still at large carried out coordinated attacks over months, leaving multiple villages devastated.
The arraignment comes amid lingering grief and tension across Plateau, where repeated attacks in Bokkos, Bassa, and nearby areas have deepened fears and claimed numerous lives, including those of children.
Despite public pressure to suspend state activities in the aftermath, Governor Caleb Mutfwang insisted on pressing forward with civic engagements, including the “Experience Plateau: Arts Meets Fashion” event. He argued that yielding to fear would embolden those behind the violence.
Describing the killings as more than routine clashes, the governor characterized them as a deliberate campaign aimed at destabilizing communities, calling for broader national and international attention.
Earlier in April, President Bola Tinubu visited Jos, meeting victims and assessing the scale of destruction. He assured residents that justice would be pursued and urged vigilance, expressing confidence that ongoing security efforts would restore stability.
With the case now before the courts, expectations are high that the trial could signal a turning point in tackling the cycle of violence that has plagued Plateau State.
