Jos North Killings: Plateau court grants suspects leave to call witnesses

By Golok Nanmwa

A High Court sitting in Jos on Tuesday granted four persons standing trial over the killings in Angwan Rukuba, Jos North Local Government Area, leave to call five witnesses each in their defence.

The suspects — Isa Umar Ibrahim, Auwalu Abubakar, also known as Auwalu Dogo, and Musa Abubakar Ibrahim, also known as Yaroro — are being prosecuted alongside one Ado Ibrahim, who is currently at large, over their alleged roles in the attack.

The accused persons were arrested by the Department of State Services following the deadly assault on Angwan Rukuba in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, which occurred on Palm Sunday in 2026 and reportedly claimed about 30 lives.

The Plateau State Government subsequently charged them with criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, illegal possession of firearms, and unlawful dealing in arms and ammunition.

Ruling during a case management conference, the trial judge, Justice Gedaliah Fwomyon, granted the defendants’ request to call five witnesses each in their defence.

The judge also reiterated his commitment to ensuring an accelerated hearing of the case, stating that two full days would be dedicated to hearing the testimonies of each defendant’s witnesses.

Justice Fwomyon further held that the prosecution had sufficiently responded to issues raised in the case management information sheet and would rely on the statements of evidence already before the court.

He ruled that the defendants would be allowed to make use of interpreters, either provided by themselves or the court, and could challenge the admissibility of their statements as well as call expert witnesses where necessary.

The court, however, directed that no party would be allowed to introduce fresh interlocutory applications, except those already filed and adopted, noting that only in exceptional circumstances would such applications be entertained.

The matter was adjourned to July 1 and 2, 2026, for hearing of the substantive case, subject to the defendants not filing any challenge to the jurisdiction of the court.

The court also ordered that the defendants remain in the custody of the DSS pending the next adjourned date.

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