FG Arraigns Nine over Yelwata Killings
• AGF leads prosecuting team
Alex Enumah in Abuja
The federal government, yesterday, arraigned nine persons over their alleged involvement in the terrorists’ attacks that resulted in the deaths of over 200 persons in Yelwata community in Benue State, last June.
The nine defendants were arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on a 57-count amended charge bordering on terrorism.
Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, led the prosecution, to demonstrate the seriousness the government attached to the trial.
Fagbemi was supported by Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), with three other lawyers.
When the matter was called, Fagbemi informed the court of the filing of a 57-count amended charge against the defendants.
Although 10 defendants were earlier listed in the amended charge, Fagbemi requested the court to strike out the name of the 6th defendant, Yakubu Mamman, from the charge.
The request was not opposed by defendants’ lawyers, including Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, A. I. Kaura, and Adamu Abdullahi, following which Mamman’s name was struck out from the charge.
Fagbemi also applied that the initial charge dated September 9, 2025, but filed September 10, 2025, where eight defendants were listed be substituted for the amended charge dated January 19, but filed January 20, and marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/471/2025.
As the defence did not object to the application, the judge struck out the earlier charge. The AGF then applied that the 57 counts be read to the defendants to take their plea.
The defendants were Ardo Lawal Mohammed, Muhammadu Saidu, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, Yakubu Adamu, Muhammed Musa, Abubakar Adamu, Shaibu Ibrahim, Saleh Mohammed, Bako Jibrin.
The defendants were alleged to have carried out an attack on June 13, 2025, where many houses were burnt down and about 150 people were massacred, while others sustained various degree of injuries.
