A witness from the Department of State Services (DSS) on Friday told a Plateau State High Court in Jos that one of the suspects being prosecuted over the Angwa Rukuba killings allegedly coordinated armed attacks in parts of Riyom Local Government Area.
The witness, who appeared before Justice Danladi Longden, alleged that the suspect, Adamu Alhassan Isa, widely known as “Shagari Bangai,” played a leading role in several violent operations carried out in communities around Vom and other settlements in Riyom.
Adamu is one of four suspects currently facing trial in connection with the Palm Sunday attack on Angwa Rukuba in Jos North Local Government Area, where about 30 people were reportedly killed. The other defendants are Isa Umar Ibrahim, Auwalu Abubakar, also called Auwalu Dogo, and Musa Abubakar Ibrahim, known as Yaroro. A fifth suspect, Ado Ibrahim, is said to be on the run.
The accused persons are standing trial on charges that include criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, unlawful possession of firearms, and illegal dealings in weapons and ammunition.
While giving evidence, the DSS operative told the court that the agency’s investigation linked Adamu to armed activities in Riyom. According to the witness, the suspect stated in his confessional statement that he led a large group of armed men during attacks on several communities in the area.
The witness further informed the court that investigators discovered more than ₦4 million in the suspect’s bank account during the course of the investigation. The prosecution alleged that the funds were connected to terrorism financing activities.
Proceedings also featured arguments from the defence team. Counsel to the defendant, Mustapha Ibrahim Shaba (SAN), requested Certified True Copies of statements made by the arresting and investigating officers.
The defence maintained that the documents were needed to verify and compare them with photocopies earlier provided by the prosecution.
After considering the application, Justice Longden ordered the prosecution to make the requested documents available to the defence.
The court subsequently adjourned the case until July 3, 2026, when hearing is expected to continue.
The allegations remain before the court, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty by the court.