Nine persons accused of involvement in the deadly attack on Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State on Monday pleaded not guilty to a 57-count amended charge bordering on terrorism before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
The suspects were arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdul-Malik following the withdrawal of charges against one of the defendants, Yakubu Mamman, by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
The Office of the AGF had earlier announced that the suspects, said to be strongly linked to the Yelwata killings, would be arraigned after what it described as a painstaking investigation and collaboration among relevant government agencies.
The prosecution team was led by the AGF in person, alongside the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).
Counsel representing the defendants include Ibrahim Angulu (SAN), Christiana Sylvester, Aminu Abubakar Bagudu, A.I. Kaura and Adamu Abdullahi, who appeared for various defendants.
Fagbemi informed the court that the prosecution filed a 57-count amended charge dated January 19 and filed on January 20, 2026, against ten defendants, but applied to withdraw the charge against the sixth defendant as well as an earlier eight-count charge filed in September 2025.
The application was not opposed by the defence and was granted by the court.
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.
Upon the prosecution’s request, the amended charge was read to the defendants with the aid of an interpreter, after which they pleaded not guilty to all counts.
According to the charge, the defendants allegedly participated in meetings between May and June 2025 in Nasarawa State to plan the attack on Yelwata community, which was carried out on June 13, 2025, resulting in the burning of houses, grievous bodily harm and the death of about 150 persons.
Following the pleas, the prosecution applied for an accelerated hearing and requested that the defendants be remanded in custody pending trial.
The court also heard an oral application for bail by the defence but directed that a formal bail application be filed.
Justice Abdul-Malik ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre and adjourned the case to February 26 and 27, 2026, for commencement of trial.
The prosecution said it intends to call eight witnesses in the course of the trial.
