Nine men accused of carrying out the deadly attack on Yelwata community in Benue State have been ordered into custody by the Federal High Court in Abuja pending the hearing of their bail applications.
The order was made on Monday by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik after the suspects were formally charged with multiple terrorism-related offences and pleaded not guilty to all counts. The court fixed February 26 and 27 for the commencement of trial.
Prosecutors filed a 57-count amended charge against the defendants, linking them to the June 13, 2025 assault on Yelwata in Guma Local Government Area, where about 150 people were reported killed and many homes set ablaze.
Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, who led the prosecution team, asked the court to fast-track proceedings and keep the defendants in correctional custody while trial preparations continue. He said the government plans to call about eight witnesses.
A defence lawyer, Ibrahim Angulu (SAN), representing three of the accused, tried to move an oral bail request, explaining that a written application had been filed earlier before the updated charge was served. However, the judge rejected the oral request and directed that a proper bail motion be filed in line with court procedure.
Before the plea was taken, the prosecution successfully applied to amend the charge sheet by removing one earlier-listed defendant after reviewing the case file. Defence lawyers did not oppose the request, and the court struck out the affected name. An earlier charge was also withdrawn and replaced with the amended version.
According to the charge, the accused allegedly held planning meetings across parts of Nasarawa State between May and June 2025 and coordinated the Yelwata attack. Prosecutors claim the operation involved armed violence, destruction of property and mass casualties.
One of the counts specifically alleges that the first defendant mobilised and directed groups across several states to participate in the assault. The offences were brought under provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Security agencies, including the Department of State Services, were said to have carried out the joint operation that led to the arrests. Investigations are ongoing as authorities continue to track other suspects said to be at large.
