February 2, 2026 l By Dalena Reporters Staff Correspondent
ABUJA — Nine men accused of involvement in the June 13, 2025 attack on the Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State which reportedly left about 150 people dead pleaded not guilty on Monday to a 57-count amended terrorism charge in a Federal High Court in Abuja.
The suspects were arraigned on the amended terrorism charge before Justice Joyce Abdul-Malik following an application by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), who withdrew earlier charges against one of the defendants, Yakubu Mamman.
The remaining nine defendants — Ardo Lawal Mohammed, Muhammadu Saidu, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, Yakubu Adamu, Muhammed Musa, Abubakar Adamu, Shaibu Ibrahim, Saleh Mohammed and Bako Jibrin — were each formally read the 57-count indictment and entered not guilty pleas to all counts.
The amended charges allege that the defendants participated in planning and executing the attack on Yelwata, including meetings held between May and June 2025 in Nasarawa State to prepare for the assault that resulted in homes being burned, widespread grievous injuries, and numerous fatalities. The count sheet accuses them of various offences under the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.
The AGF, who appeared in court with the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), told the court the prosecution had filed the amended charge on January 20, 2026, and requested the case be set down for trial.
Justice Abdul-Malik ordered that the defendants be remanded in custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the determination of bail applications and the start of the trial. She directed that formal bail motions be filed in writing, rejecting an oral bail application put forward in court.
The matter was adjourned to February 26 and 27, 2026, for the prosecution to begin presenting its evidence, which the AGF said would initially include eight witnesses.
The proceedings signal the next stage in legal actions over one of the deadliest community massacres in recent Benue State history, with authorities emphasizing that due process will be observed as the case proceeds through the judicial system.