Events
Angwa Rukuba Killings: Court Grants Suspects Leave to Call Five Witnesses Each
A Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos on Tuesday granted leave to four persons standing trial over the deadly Angwa Rukuba attacks to each call five defence witnesses.
The suspects are facing prosecution over the Palm Sunday 2026 attack on Angwa Rukuba in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, where about 30 persons were reportedly killed by gunmen.
Following the incident, the Department of State Services arrested Isa Umar Ibrahim, Auwalu Abubakar, also known as Auwalu Dogo, and Musa Abubakar Ibrahim, also known as Yaroro.
The Plateau State Government subsequently charged the three suspects alongside one Ado Ibrahim, who is currently at large, with criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, illegal possession of firearms, and unlawful dealing in arms and ammunition.
Ruling during a case management conference, Justice Gedaliah Fwomyon granted the request by the defendants to produce five witnesses each in their defence.
The judge also reiterated the court’s commitment to accelerated hearing of the case, stating that two full days would be dedicated to the testimonies of each defendant’s witnesses.
Justice Fwomyon further ruled that the prosecution had sufficiently answered the questions contained in the case management information sheet and would rely on the statements of evidence already before the court, including those of the defendants and their witnesses.
The court also ruled that the defendants would be allowed to make use of interpreters either provided by themselves or by the court.
In addition, the defendants were granted the right to challenge the admissibility of their statements and to invite expert witnesses during the trial.
However, the judge held that no party would be permitted to raise fresh interlocutory applications in the matter except those already filed and adopted before the court, noting that such applications would only be entertained under exceptional circumstances.
The matter was adjourned to July 1 and 2, 2026, for hearing of the substantive case, provided the defendants do not challenge the jurisdiction of the court.
The court further ordered that the suspects remain in the custody of the DSS pending the next adjourned date.
Recall that Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently approved a ₦2 billion relief package for victims of the Angwa Rukuba attacks and pledged that those responsible for the killings would be brought to justice.
The Plateau State Bloggers and Online Media Association (PLABOMA) on Tuesday paid a courtesy visit to the Plateau State Directorate of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to appreciate the State Director, Mrs. Kaneng Tabitha Pam-Hworo, for delivering the keynote address at the association’s recently concluded 2026 World Social Media Day celebration.
The delegation, led by the association’s General Secretary, Mr. Imbrahim Kallamu, was received by the NOA management team at the agency’s state office in Jos.
Speaking during the visit, Kallamu described the meeting as a “thank-you visit” on behalf of the association’s chairman, Mr. Matthew Tegha, who was unavoidably absent.
He said PLABOMA, established in 2020 with 15 pioneer members under its first chairman, Friday Bako, has grown into a professional body of more than 30 bloggers and online media practitioners committed to promoting responsible digital journalism.
Kallamu expressed appreciation to Pam-Hworo for honouring the association’s invitation on short notice and for delivering what he described as an insightful keynote address during the 2026 World Social Media Day held at the Usiju World Event Centre.
According to him, the State Director’s presentation added immense value to the event and underscored the importance of responsible information dissemination in the digital age.
“We are here to appreciate you for honouring our invitation and for the support you continue to give in promoting accurate, timely and responsible information to the public,” he said.
He also commended the National Orientation Agency for its statewide public enlightenment campaigns, recalling the agency’s active role during the 2024 Plateau State local government elections.
Kallamu noted that PLABOMA and the NOA share a common responsibility of providing credible information to the public and pledged the association’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the agency in tackling fake news, misinformation and disinformation.
Responding, Pam-Hworo thanked the association for the visit, describing the gesture as thoughtful and encouraging.
She noted that although the association’s chairman could not attend the meeting, his consistent communication before the visit reflected the cordial relationship between both organisations.
The NOA State Director highlighted the significant transformation in information dissemination over the years, recalling the era when news reports were manually written and transmitted through fax machines before the emergence of digital media.
She acknowledged that social media and online journalism have revolutionised communication by enabling information to reach audiences almost instantly.
While commending the growth of the new media, Pam-Hworo cautioned practitioners against sacrificing accuracy for speed, stressing that every report should be properly verified before publication.
She cited the circulation of false information regarding the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise as an example of how misinformation could easily mislead the public if left unchecked.
According to her, the misleading report was promptly verified and debunked through the relevant authorities.
The NOA Director also urged bloggers and online publishers to ensure their reports promote national unity rather than deepen divisions.
“Be careful with the kind of news you publish. Verify your stories and avoid spreading fake news. Your reports should unite the country, not divide it,” she said.
Pam-Hworo encouraged media practitioners to maintain professional ethics by reporting factual, balanced and credible stories capable of fostering public trust.
She assured PLABOMA of the agency’s continued support, noting that the NOA remains open to working closely with online media practitioners in promoting civic education, public awareness and national development.
She further emphasized that the agency’s mandate extends beyond civic education to issues including public health, climate awareness, anti-human trafficking campaigns and other national advocacy programmes.
The State Director expressed optimism that stronger collaboration between the NOA and PLABOMA would enhance the dissemination of credible information and contribute to combating fake news across Plateau State.
The visit ended with both organisations reaffirming their commitment to sustaining the partnership in promoting responsible journalism and accurate information dissemination in the state.
Lingzhi Global, with the slogan “For Africa, By Africa,” has launched a coffee awareness campaign in Jos, Plateau State, aimed at promoting coffee consumption while highlighting the economic, agricultural and health opportunities the coffee industry offers to individuals and the nation.
The event brought together captains of industry, political leaders, celebrities, entrepreneurs and members of the public for a celebration of coffee and its growing potential as a driver of economic development.
Speaking at the event, the organisers said the campaign goes beyond promoting Lingzhi Global’s coffee products. It seeks to educate Nigerians on the importance of coffee as one of the world’s most consumed beverages and how a thriving coffee industry can create jobs, improve livelihoods and strengthen local economies.
According to the organisers, increased coffee consumption will stimulate demand, encourage more people to invest in coffee farming and processing, and ultimately build a sustainable coffee value chain across Nigeria.
The campaign also encouraged participants to explore opportunities within the coffee industry, including coffee cultivation, roasting, processing, packaging, distribution and retail, positioning coffee as a viable source of entrepreneurship and employment.
As part of the exhibition, Lingzhi Global showcased a wide range of its products, including:
- Lingzhi Green Tea
- Lingzhi Black Coffee
- Lingzhi Premium Café Au Lait
- Lingzhi Premium Ginseng LG Boost
- Lingzhi Chocolate
- Lingzhi Coffee Beans
- Lingzhi Artisan Roastery
- Lingzhi Espresso
The event was organised by the Chief Executive Officer of Lingzhi Global, Blessing Nenman, who reaffirmed the company’s commitment to promoting coffee culture across Africa under its vision of “For Africa, By Africa.”
One of the highlights of the festival was the free coffee tasting session, where guests sampled different coffee varieties and experienced the unique flavours and benefits of Lingzhi Global’s products.
Organisers expressed optimism that the awareness campaign would inspire more Nigerians to embrace coffee—not only as a healthy beverage but also as a catalyst for economic empowerment, agricultural development and sustainable wealth creation.
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