The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, the 9th of March, 2026, accepted an AK-47 rifle allegedly recovered from one of the men standing trial over the 13th of June, 2025 attack on Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik admitted the weapon after it was presented in court by the first prosecution witness during the ongoing proceedings.
The witness, Moses Paul, a senior officer with the Intelligence Response Unit of the Nigeria Police Force, told the court that the rifle was recovered from one of the defendants, Ardo Muhammadu Saidu.
“The rifle has some naira notes in-between because it is their belief that if you put money in an AK 47, it will answer,” Mr Paul said.
The court admitted the rifle as Exhibit A, while the naira notes found inside it were marked as Exhibits C1 to C5.
Prosecutors also presented a ballistic examination report on the firearm. The witness explained that the report confirmed the rifle was “recently used and active.”
The document was admitted by the court as Exhibit B. Nine suspects are facing trial over the assault on Yelwata community, an incident that reportedly claimed about 150 lives.
The accused were arraigned on the 2nd of February, on 57 terrorism-related counts filed by the Nigerian government.
Those standing trial include Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono, Ardo Muhammadu Saidu, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, Yakubu Adamu, Musa Mohammed, Abubakar Adamu, Shaibu Ibrahim, Sale Mohammed and Bako Jibrin. All of them pleaded not guilty when the charges were read in court.
During his testimony, the prosecution witness said investigations pointed to tensions linked to the anti-grazing law enacted by the Benue State Government.
He alleged that Haruna Abdullahi had earlier threatened revenge after claiming that his cattle and children were killed.
The witness further told the court that meetings were held in Nasarawa State where the operation was allegedly planned.
According to him, the first defendant organised a gathering of Fulani leaders where they resolved to mobilise men and resources for attacks on several communities.
He said another meeting later followed where the attackers discussed targeting Yelwata, Daudu and Udeyi communities before settling on Yelwata.
The witness also told the court that some of the accused persons contributed funds to support the operation.
He said one AK-47 rifle was recovered from Saidu, while other weapons were allegedly in the possession of his children who are still on the run.
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According to the witness, one of the children was killed during a confrontation with military personnel.
The prosecution also tendered statements said to have been made by the defendants during police investigation.
Defence counsel opposed the admission of some of the statements, arguing that they were obtained under duress and in the absence of legal representatives.
Justice Abdulmalik then ordered a trial-within-trial to determine whether the statements were voluntarily made.
The matter was fixed for hearing on the 13th of March. Earlier in the proceedings, defence lawyers accused police operatives of intimidating the defendants in custody in a bid to compel them to make fresh statements.
The prosecution rejected the allegation, maintaining that investigations in the case had already been completed.
The judge said she could not give any directive on the complaint without clear evidence or input from correctional authorities.