Benue killings: Nine suspects deny terrorism charges in court

Nine suspects linked to the deadly Yelwata attack in Benue State have pleaded not guilty to a 57-count amended terrorism charge before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The defendants were arraigned on Monday before Justice Joyce Abdul-Malik after the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), withdrew charges against the sixth defendant, Yakubu Mamman.

The Office of the AGF had earlier said the suspects, who were “strongly linked to the killings in Yelwata,” would be prosecuted following what it described as a thorough investigation and inter-agency collaboration.

Fagbemi appeared in court alongside the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), while several defence counsel represented the accused persons.

The AGF informed the court that the prosecution filed a 57-count amended charge dated January 19, 2026, and also applied to withdraw an earlier eight-count charge. With no objection from the defence, the court struck out Mamman’s name and vacated the previous charge.

The remaining defendants are Ardo Lawal Mohammed, Muhammadu Saidu, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, Yakubu Adamu, Muhammed Musa, Abubakar Adamu, Shaibu Ibrahim, Saleh Mohammed and Bako Jibrin.

The amended charge, read with the aid of an interpreter, accused the defendants of participating in meetings between May and June 2025 in Nasarawa State to plan an attack on the Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State. Prosecutors alleged the attack, carried out on June 13, 2025, led to the burning of houses, serious injuries and the deaths of about 150 people.

The offences were said to contravene provisions of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.

All nine defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecution requested an accelerated hearing and asked the court to remand the defendants in custody pending trial, stating it would call eight witnesses.

Although one of the defence lawyers made an oral application for bail, the judge directed that a formal motion be filed.

Justice Abdul-Malik subsequently adjourned the case to February 26 and 27, 2026, for the commencement of trial and ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.