By Our Correspondent

National News – A Plateau State High Court in Jos has remanded four suspects in the custody of the Department of State Services over their alleged role in the March 2026 Angwa Rukuba killings.

The suspects—Isa Umar Ibrahim, Auwalu Abubakar (also known as Auwalu Dogo), and Musa Abubakar Ibrahim (Yaroro), among others—were arraigned before Justice Gidelia Fom-Yom on Thursday.

The defendants are facing charges of criminal conspiracy and terrorism filed under the Plateau State Penal Code Law, 2017, by Attorney General Philemon Daffi.

During the court session, the accused pleaded not guilty to all charges when read through an interpreter.

According to the prosecution, the suspects allegedly planned and executed coordinated attacks on March 28, 2026, in Angwa Rukuba, a community in Jos North Local Government Area.

The incident reportedly led to the deaths of at least 30 people, including women and children, raising serious security concerns across Plateau State.

The court adjourned the case to May 8, 2026, after defence counsel requested more time to consult with their clients, stating it was their first interaction since the arrests.

A dispute arose over the custody of the suspects, as the defence pushed for their transfer to a correctional facility to allow easier legal access.

However, the Attorney General argued that ongoing investigations into the terrorism allegations required the suspects to remain in DSS custody.

Justice Fom-Yom ruled in favour of the prosecution, citing the severity and sensitivity of the case, but directed authorities to grant defence lawyers adequate access to their clients.

Speaking after the hearing, the state maintained that strict detention was necessary due to the scale of the crime, while defence counsel affirmed readiness to pursue the case through due legal process.