Benue Attack: 9 Suspects Face 57-count Charges In Abuja Court

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, amended charges against nine suspected terrorists linked to the deadly Yelwata attack in Benue State that killed about 150 people in 2025.

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who led the Federal Government’s legal team in court, informed Justice Joyce Abdulmalik that a 57-count amended charge had been filed against the defendants.

Fagbemi explained that while the amended charge initially listed 10 defendants, he requested the court to strike out the name of the sixth defendant, Yakubu Mamman.

The defence counsel, including Ibrahim Angulu, SAN; A. I. Kaura; and Adamu Abdullahi, did not oppose the application, and Mamman’s name was subsequently removed from the charges.

The AGF also requested that the original charge, dated September 9, 2025, but filed on September 10, 2025, which listed eight defendants, be replaced with the amended charge dated January 19, 2026, but filed January 20, under file number FHC/ABJ/CR/471/2025.

After the defence raised no objection, the judge struck out the initial charge. Fagbemi then applied that the 57-count amended charge be read to the defendants so they could enter their pleas.

The suspects were accused of carrying out the attack on Yelwata village on June 13, 2025, burning several houses, killing about 150 people, and leaving many others injured.

The nine individuals currently facing the charges are Ardo Lawal Mohammed, Muhammadu Saidu, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, Yakubu Adamu, Muhammed Musa, Abubakar Adamu, Shaibu Ibrahim, Saleh Mohammed, and Bako Jibrin.