The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday remanded 8 suspects linked to the killing of over 150 persons last year in Yelewata community, Guma Local Government area of Benue State.
The suspects were arraigned and charged on 57 count relating to terrorism.
Security agencies’ painstaking investigation and collaboration led to the arrest of the suspects after the government assured justice in the matter, office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General said in a statement at the weekend.
The government said that “The prosecution is aimed at sending “a strong signal to the enemies of the country, acting under any disguise,”
Attorney of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi appeared in Court as chief prosecutor on behalf of the federal government in the matter brought before Justice Joyce Abdul-Malik, Attorney of the Federal High Court Abuja.
A former Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) Muhammad Abubakar had filed six separate cases against nine defendants in pairs and singly on 28 August 2025, charging them with acts of terrorism, including attack and killings in Benue State and other sundry offences such as illegal possession of firearms.
The suspects were then arraigned before a trial judge, Emeka Nwite, of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
All 8 suspects standing before the presiding Judge, including Haruna Abdullahi, Yakubu Adamu, Mohammed Musa, Abubakar Adamu, Shuaibu Ibrahim, Bako Jubril, Ardo Mohammed Lawal Dono, and Sale Mohammed, pleaded not guilty to the 57 count charges.
Justice Abdul-Malik after receiving the pleas of the suspects remanded them in Kuje prison, Abuja.
During the court hearing, the 57-count charge, which were translated into English, accused the suspects of conspiring in 2025 to attack Yelwata, resulting in the destruction of homes, grievous bodily harm, and the death of approximately 150 residents.
The matter has been fixed for the 26th and 27th of February 2026 for hearing.
According to the prosecution, the actions of the suspects violate sections 20, 26, and 28 of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2022.
NewsQuest reports that innocent residents, including Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), were killed during the June 2025 attack
while many others sustained injuries.
