A Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos has ordered the remand of four suspects in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) over their alleged involvement in the March 2026 killings in the Angwa Rukuba community.

The case, which came up on Thursday at Court 12 of the High Court, was adjourned till April 30, 2026, for arraignment after proceedings were stalled due to the absence of defence counsel.

The suspects are linked to the deadly attack that occurred on March 28, 2026, which left about 30 people dead, including children, following violent invasions of communities in Bokkos and Bassa Local Government Areas of Plateau State.

During Thursday’s sitting, the defendants, through an interpreter, requested more time to secure lawyers of their choice before taking their plea. The prosecution did not oppose the request but asked the court to remand them in DSS custody pending the next hearing.

The request was granted by the presiding judge, Justice Gidelia FomYom, who subsequently adjourned the case.

The Plateau State Government had filed charges against the suspects, accusing them of criminal conspiracy to commit terrorism and other related offences under the state’s Penal Code Law.

According to the charge sheet filed by the Attorney General, Philemon Daffi, the defendants allegedly planned, organised, and financed the attack that led to the mass killing in Angwa Rukuba.

The suspects were reportedly arrested by the DSS between April 3 and April 10, 2026.

Following the incident, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang condemned the killings, describing them as deliberate attempts to destabilise the state and calling for stronger national and international attention to the violence.

President Bola Tinubu, who visited the state earlier, also met victims of the attacks and assured them that efforts were ongoing to ensure justice and restore lasting peace.

The prosecution team also commended the federal government for supporting the investigation and allowing the case to be tried within the state, rather than transferring it to Abuja as was previously done in similar cases.

The suspects remain in DSS custody as the court prepares for their formal arraignment later this month.