The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday, the 2nd of February, 2026, ordered that nine men standing trial for alleged terrorism offences be kept in custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre over their suspected role in the 13th of June, 2025 attack on Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, where about 150 persons were killed and numerous houses razed.
The order was issued by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik after the defendants pleaded not guilty to an amended 57-count charge bordering on terrorism.
The judge subsequently fixed the 26th and 27th of February, for the commencement of trial.
The prosecution was led by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who urged the court to proceed swiftly with the hearing and approve the continued detention of the defendants pending trial.
“In line with Section 273 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), the plea of not guilty triggers the court’s jurisdiction for trial. I am requesting an accelerated hearing and that the defendants be remanded pending trial,” Mr. Fagbemi told the court.
He also disclosed that the prosecution intends to call about eight witnesses to establish its case against the accused persons.
On behalf of the defence, Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, who represents the first, eighth and ninth defendants, sought the court’s permission to move an oral bail application, referencing a motion earlier filed on the same day. Justice Abdulmalik declined the request, directing counsel to file a proper written bail application in line with court procedure.
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The suspects were arrested through joint security operations involving agencies such as the Department of State Services (DSS). Those arraigned are Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono, Ardo Muhammadu Saidu, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, Yakubu Adamu, Alhaji Musa Mohammed, Abubakar Adamu, Shaibu Ibrahim, Sale Mohammed and Bako Jibrin.
During the proceedings, the AGF informed the court that the charge had been amended, noting that Yakubu Mamah, previously listed as the sixth defendant, had been removed from the case. The court granted the application, striking out the charge filed in September 2025 and replacing it with the amended 57-count charge filed in January 2026.
According to the prosecution, the defendants, alongside others still at large, allegedly convened meetings in Nasarawa State between May and June 2025, where plans for the Yelwata attack were allegedly hatched and coordinated.
One of the charges, Count 25, specifically alleges that Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono mobilised and directed Fulani youths from different states to carry out the attack, leading to widespread killings and destruction of property. The alleged offences are said to violate provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.