Jos North Killings: Plateau High Court Allows Defendants to Present Witnesses
Court grants four accused persons permission to call five witnesses each as hearing progresses over the Angwan Rukuba killings case.
A Plateau State High Court has granted four defendants standing trial over the Angwan Rukuba killings permission to call witnesses in their defence. The court also fixed July 1 and 2, 2026, for the commencement of substantive hearing while ordering that the suspects remain in DSS custody.
JOS — A High Court sitting in Jos has granted four individuals standing trial over the killings in Angwan Rukuba, Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, leave to call five witnesses each in support of their defence.
The accused persons — Isa Umar Ibrahim, Auwalu Abubakar, popularly known as Auwalu Dogo, Musa Abubakar Ibrahim, also known as Yaroro, and one Ado Ibrahim who remains at large — are facing prosecution over their alleged involvement in the attack.
The suspects were arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) following the deadly incident in Angwan Rukuba, which occurred on Palm Sunday in 2026 and reportedly claimed about 30 lives.
Subsequently, the Plateau State Government filed charges against them bordering on criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, illegal possession of firearms, and unlawful dealing in arms and ammunition.
Delivering ruling during a case management conference on Tuesday, the trial judge, Justice Gedaliah Fwomyon, approved the defendants’ request to present five witnesses each in court.
Justice Fwomyon reaffirmed the court’s commitment to a speedy trial and disclosed that two full days would be allocated for the presentation of witness testimonies by each defendant.
The court also held that the prosecution had adequately addressed issues raised in the case management information sheet and would rely on the statements of evidence already submitted.
Additionally, the judge ruled that the defendants may make use of interpreters provided either by themselves or the court and retain the right to challenge the admissibility of statements tendered as evidence, including calling expert witnesses where necessary.
However, the court directed that no fresh interlocutory applications would be entertained except those already filed and adopted, unless exceptional circumstances arise.
The matter was adjourned to July 1 and 2, 2026, for substantive hearing, subject to the defendants not filing any challenge to the jurisdiction of the court.
The court further ordered that the defendants remain in DSS custody pending the next hearing date.
