Court Hearing Postponed as Yelwata Attack Suspect Collapses

The Federal High Court in Abuja saw the trial of nine defendants associated with the June 2025 massacre in Yelwata, Benue State, come to an abrupt halt on Tuesday when one of the suspects fell unconscious preemptively as proceedings were set to begin.

Haruna Abdullahi, the third defendant in the case, collapsed from his seat, prompting prison officials to rush to his aid in an attempt to bring him back to consciousness.

After being assisted back into his chair, Abdullahi remained unresponsive. He was still unconscious when the judge entered the courtroom to initiate the hearing.

Abdullahi is among nine accused individuals facing charges of terrorism linked to the brutal attack that took place on June 13, 2025, where approximately 150 individuals were reportedly killed, and numerous homes were destroyed.

The alleged armed assailants not only set fire to houses in the Yelwata community but also severely injured many others.

The other defendants include Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono, Ardo Muhammadu Saidu, Yakubu Adamu, Musa Mohammed, Abubakar Adamu, Shaibu Ibrahim, Sale Mohammed, and Bako Jibrin, all of whom have pleaded not guilty to the 57 counts of terrorism leveled against them during their arraignment on February 2.

The defendants, who are all male and have not been granted bail, have been present in court from prison since the beginning of the trial. Prior to this incident, on March 9, the first defendant, Ardo Muhammadu Saidu, through his attorney, challenged the validity of an extra-judicial statement he provided during investigations, asserting that it was obtained under coercion.

This objection led to the judge, Joyce Abdulmalik, ordering a trial-within- trial to investigate the circumstances surrounding the acquisition of these statements, which began on March 13 and was expected to carry on Tuesday.

Witnesses have recounted that the defendants arrived at the court in good health around 10 a.m. but the situation took a turn for the worse when Abdullahi suddenly lost consciousness. Despite attempts made by prison staff to revive him, he did not regain awareness before the case was called shortly after noon.

Following the incident, a court official informed the judge of Abdullahi's condition. The judge highlighted that it would be incorrect to classify him as present if he was unconscious for over an hour.

In response to the events, Rotimi Oyedepo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and the Director of Public Prosecution, revealed that prison officials reported Abdullahi was well upon his arrival at court but deteriorated within the premises.

Abdullahi's defense attorney, Ahmed Muhammad, expressed concerns over his client's condition, advocating for urgent medical attention. Another defense lawyer, Ibrahim Angulu, also echoed this humanitarian plea, highlighting the fragility of life.

Both the prosecution and the defense concurred on the necessity for adjournment, allowing for the appropriate medical attention for Abdullahi. Consequently, the judge granted the motion and rescheduled the trial for March 30 and 31.

The defendants had been arraigned after the devastating attack, with a police officer testifying about how the assailants stormed the community armed with rifles following prior meetings in Nasarawa State. During the previous proceedings, evidence, including an AK-47 rifle linked to one of the accused, was presented and accepted by the court.

The trial has drawn significant attention given the severity of the allegations against the defendants, with the court's timeline emphasizing the nation's ongoing struggle with issues of terrorism and violence affecting communities in Benue State and beyond.