…Suspects plead not guilty, remanded in DSS custody as case adjourned May 8
From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
Heavily armed personnel on Thursday took over strategic points at the Jos High Court as the five persons accused of spearheading the March 29 killings in Angwan area of Jos North local government area of Plateau made their second appearance in court.
The Plateau State Government had filed charges against the five suspects, who were arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) in connection with the March 29,02026 killings in which more than 35 persons were killed.
The suspects arrived at the court around 9 am and proceedings commenced immediately.
The accused persons were presented before Justice Gidelia Fomyong and Justice Jacob Longden in Courts 12 and 9 of the Plateau State High Court.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
Case adjourned till May 8 for case management conference ((CMC) while the defendants were ordered to be remanded in DSS custody.
The suspects—Isa Umar Ibrahim, Auwalu Abubakar, Musa Abubakar Ibrahim, and Adamu Isa Alhassan—were arrested between April 3 and 10, 2026, and charged with criminal conspiracy to commit terrorism under the Plateau State Penal Code.
According to the charge filed by the State Attorney General, Philemon Daffi, the defendants acted “contrary to Section 269 and punishable under Section 270 of the Penal Code Law of Plateau State, 2017.”
The charge stated, “That you did conspire amongst yourselves to commit offences relating to terrorism when you planned, organised, facilitated, aided, and contributed money to carry out the attack in Angwan Rukuba, which led to the death of over thirty (30) people.”
Another defendant, Adamu Isa Alhassan, is facing additional charges, including culpable homicide, illegal possession of firearms, and unlawful dealing in arms and ammunition.
Part of the charge against him read that he and others “armed yourselves with guns, attacked and killed residents” in parts of Riyom and Jos South local government areas.
Speaking with newsmen at the end of the proceedings, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Philemon Daffi, said that after the defendants pleaded not guilty they were ordered to be remanded in the DSS custody.
He said, “No, they needed to be remanded because investigations are ongoing. The question of whether to remand them in the DSS custody or in prison is, in the opinion of the court, it’s prerogative, particularly that the charge of terrorism is included.”
However Counsel for one of the defendants, Mohammed Salihu,said that he was not satisfied with the ruling that the defendants be remanded in the DSS custody.
He alleged that the suspects were being tortured to extract confessional statement while in the custody of the secret service, adding that his client had one of his hands broken in the process.
He said, “We’re out,but I am not pleased with the outcome. The rule of thr court, as provided for by the Administration of Criminal Justice Act is that once a suspect has been arraigned and plea taken, the defendants are normally remanded in correctional centres and not in DSS custody.
“But I have told my client not to worry, that I will come to DSS to get evidence from him.
The premises of the court was besieged by hundreds of relatives and friends of the suspects.
