Nine suspects accused of involvement in the deadly attack on Yelwata community in Benue State on Monday pleaded not guilty to a 57-count amended charge bordering on terrorism before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The suspects were arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdul-Malik following the withdrawal of charges against the sixth defendant, Yakubu Mamman, by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
The Office of the AGF had earlier said the suspects, who were “strongly linked to the killings in Yelwata,” would be arraigned after what it described as a painstaking investigation and collaboration among government agencies.
Fagbemi, who appeared in person for the prosecution alongside the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), informed the court that a 57-count amended charge dated January 19, 2026, and filed on January 20, 2026, had been brought against 10 defendants. He also applied to withdraw an earlier eight-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/471/2025, dated September 9, 2025.
The defence did not oppose the application, prompting Justice Abdul-Malik to strike out the name of the sixth defendant and withdraw the earlier 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.
Following an application by the prosecution, the court ordered that the amended charge be read to the defendants with the aid of an interpreter, after which they pleaded not guilty to all 57 counts.
In count one of the charge, the defendants were accused of participating in meetings between May and June 2025 in Nasarawa State to plan an attack on Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State. The attack, which was carried out on June 13, 2025, allegedly resulted in the burning of houses, grievous bodily harm and the death of about 150 persons.
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Fagbemi told the court that by entering their pleas, the defendants had invoked the court’s jurisdiction for trial and applied for an accelerated hearing. He also requested that the defendants be remanded in a correctional facility pending trial.
An oral application for bail was made by defence counsel, Ibrahim Angulu (SAN), but the judge directed the defence to file a formal application in response to an amended motion on notice by the prosecution. Counsel subsequently sought a short date to move the bail application.
The prosecution informed the court that it intended to call eight witnesses during the trial.
Justice Abdul-Malik adjourned the matter to February 26 and 27, 2026, for the commencement of trial and ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending trial.