A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that nine individuals linked to the brutal June 2025 attack on Yelwata community in Benue State be remanded at the Nigeria Correctional Service facility in Kuje.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik made the order on Monday following the plea proceedings in the trial.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has charged the suspects—Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono, Ardo Muhammadu Saidu, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, Yakubu Adamu, Alhaji Musa Mohammed, Abubukar Adamu, Shuaibu, Saleh Mohammed, and Bako Jibrin—with offences arising from the June 13, 2025 raid on Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area. One suspect, Yakubu Mammah, remains at large.
According to the 57-count charge, the federal government alleges that the suspects conspired between May and June 2025 to attack Yelwata, resulting in the burning of homes, grievous injuries, and the deaths of around 150 people.
The prosecution further claims the suspects solicited funds from community leaders in Nasarawa State and recruited attackers from Kwara, Taraba, and Nasarawa states to execute the raid. The allegations are said to contravene sections 20, 26, and 28 of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2022.
Reports indicate that more than 100 residents, including Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), were killed during the attack, while many others sustained injuries.
