Nine persons were arraigned today Monday at the Federal High Court Abuja for “knowingly and directly” planning and executing terrorists’ acts against innocent civilians in Yelwata Community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
The massacre was carried out on June 13 -14, 2025, and resulted in “the burning of houses, grievous bodily harm, and the death of approximately one hundred and fifty (150) persons.”
The offence was committed “contrary to Section 12(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under the same section.”
And to show the seriousness attached to the trial by the Federal Government of Nigeria, the prosecution was led personally by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (SGF), Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), alongside the Director Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) and three other lawyers.
Those standing trial under Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/471/2025 include Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono, Ardo Muhammadu Saidu, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, Yakubu Adamu, Alhaji Musa Mohammed, Abubakar Adamu, Shaibu Ibrahim, Sale Mohammed and Bako Jibrin.
They are facing all facing a total of 57-count charge bothering on commission of an act of terrorism by soliciting contributions in cash; participating in meetings in connection with the commission of an act of terrorism; and provision of weapons for persons for the benefit of terrorism.
Other charged include recruiting persons from Kwara State, Taraba State, Giza, and other surrounding villages in Nasarawa State to participate in the Commission of an act of terrorism; soliciting property by collecting funds from individuals (ARDOs and your kinsmen) for the commission of act of terrorism; permitting the use of premises to be used for a meeting in connection with the commission of an act of terrorism; had information and knew that the information would be of material assistance in preventing the commission of an act of terrorism; engaged in preparations to commit an act of terrorism by coordinating based on information you received at the terrorist meeting at the Ardo Dono’s palace to plan an attack on Yelwata Community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
They were arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdul-Malik of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
