The arraignment of four suspects linked to the deadly attack on Angwa Rukuba community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State was on Thursday stalled due to the absence of defence counsel.
The suspects appeared before Court 12 of the Plateau State High Court in Jos but could not take their plea after requesting an adjournment to enable them to reach their lawyers.
The defendants are standing trial in connection with the March 2026 violence that left about 30 people, including children, dead after suspected gunmen invaded communities in Bokkos and Bassa local government areas.
The Plateau State Government had filed charges against them following their arrest by the Department of State Services between April 3 and April 10, 2026.
Those charged include Isa Umar Ibrahim, Auwalu Abubakar (also known as Auwalu Dogo), Musa Abubakar Ibrahim (also known as Yaroro), and another defendant still unnamed in court proceedings.
According to the charge signed by the State Attorney General, Philemon Daffi, the defendants allegedly conspired to commit terrorism by planning, organising, and financing the attack that resulted in multiple deaths.
The charge states that their actions contravened Sections 269 and 270 of the Penal Code Law of Plateau State, 2017.
Following the violent incident, Governor Caleb Mutfwang condemned the killings, describing them as deliberate attempts to destabilise the state and calling for international attention to what he termed targeted violence.
President Bola Tinubu, who visited Plateau State earlier in the month, met victims of the attacks and pledged that those responsible would be brought to justice, while urging residents to remain calm and vigilant as security efforts continue.
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