The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, is leading the Federal Government’s prosecution team in the trial of nine suspects accused of involvement in the killing of about 150 people in Yelwata, Benue State.
The suspects were arraigned on Monday before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations that they carried out the attack on Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area on June 13, 2025.
According to the federal government, the charges followed extensive investigations conducted in collaboration with relevant security and investigative agencies.
The defendants are facing a 57-count amended charge linked to the mass killing that occurred in the community in June last year. They are Ado Mohammed Dono, Mohammed Saidu, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, Yakubu Adamu, Mohammed Musa, Abubakar Adamu, Shaibu Ibrahim, Saleh Mohammed, and Bako Jibril. All nine pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The federal government had earlier vowed to prosecute all those connected to the Benue killings, underscoring its resolve to ensure justice and accountability.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation reaffirmed the government’s commitment to diligently pursue the case as a deterrent to individuals or groups threatening national peace and security.
“The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to the protection of the lives and property of all citizens, as enshrined in the Constitution,” the statement said.
However, the nine suspected accused of leading the deadly attack on Yelwata, Guma Local Government, have pleaded not guilty to a 57-count terrorism charge filed by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
The suspects, Ado Lawal Mohammed Dunu, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, Yakubu Adamu, Mohammed Musa, Abubakar Adamu, Shuaibu Adamu, Isa Yusuf Nagogo, Ado Mohammed Saidu, and Jibril Bako denied involvement.
Recall that in June last year hundreds of persons were killed in Yelwata village in Benue State.
