Nine individuals associated with the brutal attack on a community in Benue State have pleaded not guilty to charges of terrorism comprising 57 counts brought against them by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
The defendants include Ado Lawal Mohammed Dunu, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, Yakubu Adamu, Mohammed Musa, Abubakar Adamu, Yakubu Mamman (who is currently at large), Shuaibu Adamu, Isa Yusuf Nagogo, Ado Mohammed Saidu, and Jibril Bako. They refuted any involvement in the incident that occurred on June 13, 2025, in Yelwata, located in the Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
The extensive 57-count indictment, which was presented in court and translated into English for clarity, alleges that the group conspired to stage an assault on the community between May and June 2025. This resulted in the destruction of homes and led to serious physical harm and the deaths of nearly 150 people.
Additionally, allegations against the defendants include soliciting funds from local chiefs in Nasarawa State and recruiting individuals from Kwara, Taraba, and Nasarawa states to execute the violent attacks.
The prosecution asserts that these actions violate sections 20, 26, and 28 of the Terrorism Prevention Act of 2022.
According to reports, the June attack claimed the lives of over 100 innocent individuals, including Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), with many others suffering injuries from the violence unleashed on the community.
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