Nine suspects accused of orchestrating the deadly Yelwata attack in Benue State pleaded not guilty to a 57-count amended terrorism charge before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday.
The defendants appeared before Justice Joyce Abdul-Malik following the withdrawal of charges against the sixth suspect, Yakubu Mamman, by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN). The AGF, alongside the Director of Public Prosecution, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), represented the prosecution in court.
According to a statement from the Office of the AGF, the suspects are “strongly linked to the killings in Yelwata” and were arraigned after extensive investigations and collaboration among government agencies.
Legal representatives for the defendants included Ibrahim Angulu (SAN), Christiana Sylvester, Aminu Abubakar Bagudu, A.I. Kaura, and Adamu Abdullahi, covering various defendants.
The court read the 57-count amended charge, dated January 19, 2026, to the defendants with the aid of an interpreter. Count one alleges that between May and June 2025, the suspects knowingly participated in meetings in Nasarawa State to plan the attack on Yelwata community, which occurred on June 13, 2025, resulting in the deaths of approximately 150 people and destruction of property.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all counts. Fagbemi requested an accelerated hearing under Section 273 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and urged that the suspects be remanded pending trial. An oral bail application was made but deferred for proper filing. The prosecution plans to call eight witnesses during the trial.
The case was adjourned to February 26 and 27, 2026, for trial commencement, with the defendants remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre.
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