A Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos has directed that four individuals facing trial over the Anguwan Rukuba killings in Jos North Local Government Area remain in the custody of the Department of State Services while investigations continue.
The defendants are being prosecuted on allegations of criminal conspiracy to commit terrorism and terrorism in connection with the March 28 incident, which reportedly left more than 30 people dead.
During Thursday’s resumed proceedings, the Plateau State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Philemon Audu Daffi, told the court that the prosecution had submitted a Case Management Conference (CMC) alongside the charges and sought a date for the conference.
Daffi further requested that the accused persons continue to be held in DSS custody, maintaining that investigations were ongoing and noting that a key suspect in the case was still at large.
The prosecution stated that the charges were brought under Section 269 and are punishable under Section 270 of the Penal Code Law of Plateau State 2017.
According to the charge, the defendants allegedly conspired, planned, organised, facilitated, and financially supported the Anguwan Rukuba attack in Jos North Local Government Area.
In a separate but related case, another suspect, Adamu Alhassan, was arraigned on a six-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, terrorism, unlawful possession of firearms, and illegal arms dealing.
The prosecution argued that his continued detention was justified under Sections 307, 311 and 313 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Plateau State 2018, stressing that further investigation was required as other suspects connected to the case remained at large.
Counsel to the defence, Mustapha Ibrahim, SAN, did not object to fixing a date for the Case Management Conference but opposed the continued detention of the defendants in DSS custody, saying it could hinder legal representatives’ access to their clients.
In response, the Attorney General rejected the concern, stating that throughout his legal career, he had not encountered any instance where the DSS denied lawyers access to detainees.
Delivering his ruling, the presiding judge, Justice Danladi Longden, ordered that the defendants remain in DSS custody pending the next hearing and instructed the DSS to allow defence counsel access to their clients.
The court subsequently adjourned the case to May 8, 2026, for the Case Management Conference.
The suspects were apprehended between April 3 and April 10 in connection with the attacks, which sparked public outrage and renewed demands for justice for victims of the violence in Plateau State.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier visited Jos, where he assured residents that those responsible for the attacks would be brought to justice.
The President also announced a ₦2 billion relief fund for victims during a recent meeting with Plateau stakeholders in Abuja.
