The Federal High Court in Abuja heard harrowing testimony on how more than 100 AK-47-wielding terrorists stormed Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, killing over 150 people and burning down houses in a coordinated attack on June 13, 2025.
The revelation emerged during the trial of nine defendants arraigned on a 57-count charge of terrorism. The court remanded the suspects in Kuje Correctional Centre after they pleaded not guilty.
The defendants are:
– Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono
– Ardo Muhammadu Saidu
– Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi
– Yakubu Adamu
– Musa Mohammed
– Abubakar Adamu
– Shaibu Ibrahim
– Saleh Mohammed
– Bako Jibrin
The Federal Government alleges that between May and June 2025, the defendants participated in planning meetings in Nasarawa State, where they perfected strategies to attack Yelwata and other Benue communities.
The prosecution’s first witness, Mr Moses Paul — a Chief Superintendent of Police and member of the Intelligence Response Unit — testified before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.
Led in evidence by Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, the witness said he was in Apa, Benue State, handling a kidnapping case when news of the Yelwata attack broke on June 13, 2025.
He was immediately deployed to the scene and began investigations the following day, leading to the arrest of the defendants in border communities including Kadarko, Ageregu, and Lafia in Nasarawa State.
According to the witness, the first defendant, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, confessed during interrogation to attending multiple meetings convened by disgruntled Fulani chiefs in Nasarawa State.
Some meetings took place at the residence of Ardo Lawal Dono, described as head of Ardos in Nasarawa. The gatherings addressed perceived injustices against Fulani herders, including the alleged killing of their cattle in Nasarawa and Benue states.
The witness said Dono allegedly urged participants to carry out a revenge attack at the end of one meeting.
A subsequent meeting at the residence of the second defendant, Ardo Mohammed Saidu (also known as Ardo Kadalko), reportedly agreed on fundraising for the operation. Abdullahi allegedly contributed N300,000, while another participant gave N200,000.
Saidu reportedly claimed personal losses of about 250 cows and two children in a nearby community.
The witness stated that although the attackers initially targeted Dawudu community, they diverted to Yelwata after facing resistance.
He described the attackers as numbering over 100, all armed with AK-47 rifles. More than 200 people were attacked in Yelwata, which had become a refuge for displaced villagers from other areas.
“People who were taking refuge in Yelwata were also victims of the attack,” he said.
The witness spent nearly a month in the area conducting investigations and noted that probes are ongoing, with the possibility of more arrests.
Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the case to Friday for continuation of hearing.
The defendants face charges under various sections of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
