Just weeks after President Bola Tinubu visited Plateau state and promised justice for victims of serial attacks, the state government has filed charges against five suspects arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) in connection with the March 2026 killings of several people in Angwa- Rukuba, Jos North Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
Blueprint.ng reports that the state government filed charges of
criminal conspiracy to commit terrorism and other related offences against the quartet of Isa Umar Ibrahim, Auwalu Abubakar aka Auwalu Dogo, and Musa Abubakar Ibrahim aka Yaroro.
However, Adamu Isa Alhassan, who is one of the five defendants, was charged with criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, illegal possession of firearms, and illegally dealing in arms and ammunition.
They accused were arrested between April 3 and April 10, 2026.
The State Attorney General, Philemon Audu Daffi, who filed the charges, said the actions of the four men were “contrary to Section 269 and Punishable under Section 270 of the Penal Code Law of Plateau State, 2017.”
The particulars of offence read, “That you, Isa Umar Ibrahim, Musa Abubakar Ibrahim of Riyom LGA, Auwalu Abubakar (aka Auwalu Dogo) of Jos North LGA, Musa Abubakar Ibrahim (aka Yaroro) of Jos North LGAs of Plateau state; and one Ado Ibrahim (now at large) of Riyom LGA of Plateau state, on March 28, 2025 at Farin Gada, Jos North LGA, 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, Jos North LGA of Plateau state within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court; you thereby committed the above offence.
“That you, Isa Umar Ibrahim, Musa Abubakar Ibrahim of Riyom LGA, Auwalu Abubakar (A.K.A Auwalu Dogo) of Jos North LGA, Musa Abubakar Ibrahim (A.K.A Yaroro) of Jos North LGA of Plateau state; and one Ado Ibrahim (now at large) of Riyom LGA of Plateau state, on March 28, 2025 at Farin Gada, Jos North LGA, did commit the offence of terrorism when you planned, organised, facilitated, aided, contributed and received money to carry out an attack in Angwan Rukuba, which led to the death of over 30 people in Jos North LGA of Plateau State within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court.”
Part of the particulars of Alhassan’s offence read, “That you Adamu Isah Alhassan together with one Ibrahim Musa (now at large), Imarana Sa’idu (now at large), Yusuf Sa’idu (now at large) Aliyu Usaini (now at large), Yahuza Adamu (now at large), Mubarak Yunusa (now at large), Yakubu, whose surname is unknown (now at large) and others also at large between the months of January to December, 2025 and in January, 2026 at Gwang, Rin Ward, Bachit and Bangai Villages of Riyom LGA and Vom in Jos South Local Government Areas of Plateau State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit an illegal act to wit: Culpable Homicide Punishable with Death, when you armed yourselves with guns, attacked and killed the residents of Gwang, Rin Ward, Bachit and Bangai Villages of Riyom Local Government Area and Vom in Jos South LGA of Plateau state, and you thereby committed the above offence.”
On Friday March 28, 2025, no fewer than 30 persons including children were killed after suspected herders attacked some communities in Bokkos and Bassa LGA and its environs.
Following the killings, many called for the cancellation of a state-organised programme, ‘Experience Plateau, Arts Meets Fashion’, however, brushing aside the calls, the Plateau state Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, said cancelling the event would satisfy the agenda of the attackers.
“Last week, Bokkos LGA came under renewed attack by murderers who are desperate to break our spirit. Many advised that we suspend this function, but we realised that these attackers intend to keep us in perpetual mourning, to force us indoors, and to shackle our collective spirit.
“But I said no! Life must go on. Plateau must move forward by the grace of God. The genocide on the Plateau will come to an end. What is happening is not a farmer-herder conflict. Let me be clear: it is genocide, and I urge the international community to take note,” declared the governor.
