A Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos has granted four suspects standing trial over the 2026 Angwa Rukuba killings permission to call five witnesses each in their defence as proceedings continue in the high-profile case.
The suspects are being prosecuted in connection with the Palm Sunday attack on Angwa Rukuba community in Jos North Local Government Area, where about 30 people were reportedly killed by armed assailants.
Those standing trial include Isa Umar Ibrahim, Auwalu Abubakar, popularly known as Auwalu Dogo, Musa Abubakar Ibrahim, also known as Yaroro, and Ado Ibrahim, who remains at large.
The accused persons are facing charges filed by the Plateau State Government bordering on criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, illegal possession of firearms, and unlawful dealing in arms and ammunition.
During Tuesday’s case management conference, Justice Gedaliah Fwomyon approved the request by the defence counsel for each defendant to present five witnesses during trial.
The judge stated that the court was determined to ensure speedy hearing of the matter and disclosed that two full days would be allocated for the testimonies of witnesses called by each defendant.
Justice Fwomyon also held that the prosecution had adequately responded to issues raised in the case management information sheet and would rely on the statements already before the court, including those made by the defendants and their witnesses.
In addition, the court ruled that the accused persons could make use of interpreters either provided by the court or sourced personally by the defence team.
The defendants were equally granted leave to contest the admissibility of statements tendered before the court and to call expert witnesses where necessary during the proceedings.
However, the court barred parties from filing fresh interlocutory applications except under exceptional circumstances, noting that only applications already filed and adopted would be entertained.
The matter was adjourned to July 1 and 2, 2026, for commencement of substantive hearing, provided there is no challenge to the court’s jurisdiction.
Justice Fwomyon further ordered that the suspects remain in the custody of the Department of State Services pending the next hearing date.
The Angwa Rukuba killings drew national outrage, prompting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to approve a ₦2 billion relief package for victims and assure residents that those behind the attack would face justice.
