Angwa Rukuba Killings: Plateau Govt Opposes Medical Treatment Request For Suspect
By Anne Osemekeh, Abuja
The Plateau State Government has opposed a motion filed by one of the four persons arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) over alleged links to the Angwa Rukuba massacre in Jos North Local Government Area.
At the continuation of proceedings at the State High Court, Jos on Thursday, counsel to the third defendant, M. I. Salihu, moved the motion seeking an order compelling the prosecution to allow his client access medical care at JUTH.
The suspect had sought the court’s permission to receive medical treatment at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Jos, a request the prosecution strongly objected to, arguing it was aimed at delaying the accelerated hearing of the terrorism case.
It would be recalled that the Angwa Rukuba attack occurred on Palm Sunday of 2026, when gunmen stormed the community in Jos North LGA, killing about 30 persons in a brutal assault that shocked the state and triggered widespread condemnation. Days after the incident, operatives of the DSS arrested Adamu Isa Alhassan, Isa Umar Ibrahim, Auwalu Abubakar (aka Auwalu Dogo), and Musa Abubakar Ibrahim (aka Yaroro) in connection with the attack.
The Plateau State Government subsequently charged the four suspects alongside one Ado Ibrahim, who is currently at large, on terrorism-related offences.
Responding, the prosecution counsel, Plateau State Director of Civil Litigation, Sabo Longji, filed a counter-affidavit urging the court, presided over by Justice Gedeliah Fwomyon, to dismiss the application in the interest of justice for victims of the massacre. He maintained that the request was a calculated attempt to stall the trial.
The judge subsequently reserved ruling on the application, describing it as contentious, and directed counsel to submit their telephone numbers for communication of the ruling date. The matter was adjourned to 15 July 2026.
