Court Accepts Video Evidence in Yelwata Killings Case

The Federal High Court located in Abuja has officially accepted a video recording that contains statements from suspects involved in the Yelwata killings, marking a significant advancement in a case that has seen numerous delays.

During a session on Monday, prosecution counsel Mariam Okorie presented the compact disc before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, assuring the court that the defendants had received the material as required by legal protocol.

Defense attorneys did not challenge the admission, leading the court to recognize the disc as Exhibit TWT1 and ordered its playback in open court, as reported by Punch.

The footage, shared by a prosecution witness named Paul Moses, illustrated various moments of the defendants, including their arrests in Benue State, their transfer to the Intelligence Response Team, and the statements that were recorded from them.

According to the witness, this procedure took place in the presence of the defendants' lawyers and family members.

In a notable segment of the video, one of the accused, Haruna Abdullahi, confirmed his identity while recounting personal losses, including the death of two children and the loss of around 100 cows.

He indicated that similar assaults on other herders had occurred around May of the previous year, which spurred meetings organized by local leaders.

Abdullahi also noted that he had contributed N300,000 toward efforts perceived to be connected to retaliation.

He mentioned owning an AK-47 rifle in the past but disclosed that he had sold it prior to the incident.

In another part of the footage, Abdullahi attributed the loss of livestock to attacks by youths from the Tiv community and expressed that these events forced many herders to flee their homes.

While he confirmed participation in the fundraising meetings, he asserted that he had no awareness of any funding being utilized for violent reprisals.

Proceedings faced a temporary halt during the video playback as defense counsel raised concerns regarding the precision of the Hausa-to-English translation provided in court.

Ahmed Muhammad, the counsel for the third defendant, requested the dismissal of the current interpreter, citing concerns over the fidelity of the translations.

Justice Abdulmalik approved this request, instructing the prosecution to secure a new interpreter before the next hearing.

This recent development follows previous interruptions during the trial.

At an earlier session, the proceedings were postponed when the same defendant collapsed while in court, necessitating urgent medical assistance and bringing the trial to a standstill.

Delays also arose after the prosecution admitted that the device containing the video evidence had been corrupted initially.

The defendants are part of those being tried for their involvement in the violent attack on the Yelwata community in the Guma Local Government Area of Benue State on June 13, 2025, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 150 individuals.

Multiple charges concerning terrorism have been brought against them by the federal government.

In recent months, this trial has garnered significant attention, particularly following revelations that mass graves associated with the incident have been exhumed as part of ongoing investigations aimed at reinforcing the evidence and confirming the identities of victims.

The court has adjourned the proceedings, with plans to continue once a new interpreter is arranged.