A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered the remand of nine terror suspects in Kuje prison shortly after they were arraigned over their alleged involvement in the June 13, 2025, violent attacks in Yelwata Community in Benue, in which about 150 persons died, and property was destroyed.
They are: Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono, Ardo Muhammadu Saidu, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, Yakubu Adamu, Alhaji Musa Mohammed, Abubakar Adamu, Shaibu Ibrahim, Sale Mohammed, and Bako Jibrin.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, in a ruling, ordered that the nine remain in Kuje prison pending the determination of their bail applications and adjourned till February 26.
During their arraignment, the nine defendants pleaded not guilty to a 57-count charge, bordering on terrorism related offences, brought against them by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
Shortly after the defendants pleaded to the charge, the AGF, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), who led the prosecuting team, applied for a date for the prosecution to open its case.
Fagbemi said, in line with Section 273 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, and following the plea of the defendants, it means they have invoked the jurisdiction of the court for trial.
The AGF urged the court to grant an accelerated hearing in view of the nature of the case
When asked by the judge about the number of witnesses the prosecution plans to call, Fagbemi said, “For now, we have about eight witnesses.”
Justice Abdulmalik rejected the move by the lawyer to the first, eighth, and ninth defendants, Ibrahim Angulu (SAN), to apply for bail orally for his clients.
She insisted that the defendants must file formal bail applications, stressing that “The practice of this court is that you file a formal bail application.”
At the commencement of proceedings, Fagbemi told the court that the prosecution had filed an amended and sought to add the name of the sixth defendant, Yakubu Mamah, as a defendant on the charge.
Fagbemi also applied that the initial charge, dated September 9, 2025, but filed September 10, 2025, in which eight defendants were listed, be replaced with the amended charge, dated January 19 but filed January 20.
Angulu and other defence lawyers – A. I. Kaura and Adamu Abdullahi – did not oppose Fagbemi’s application, following which Justice Abdulmalik struck out the old charge and announced the striking out of Mamah’s name from the charge.
In count one of the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/471/2025, the defendants and others still at large were alleged to have, sometime between May and June 2025 in Nasarawa State, knowingly and directly participated in meetings in connection with the commission of an act of terrorism.
They were said to have planned the attack on Yelwata Community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue, and subsequently carried it out on June 13, 2025, resulting in the burning of houses, grievous bodily harm, and the death of approximately 150 persons.
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The offence is said to be contrary to Section 12(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable under the same section.
In count six, Dono was alleged to have “knowingly recruited persons from Kwara State, Taraba State, Giza, and other surrounding villages in Nasarawa State to participate in the commission of an act of terrorism i.e. to attack Yelwata Community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, the attack which was subsequently carried out on the 13th day of June 2025, and resulted in the burning of houses, grievous bodily harm, and the death of approximately 150 persons in Yelwata.”
Dono was, in count 16 alleged to have engaged in preparations to commit an act of terrorism by coordinating the acquisition of weapons, logistics, manpower, and information used to execute the attack on Yelwata Community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, the attack which was subsequently carried out on the 13th day of June 2025, and resulted in the burning of houses, grievous bodily harm, and the death of approximately 150 persons in Yelwata.
In count 25, Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono (1st defendant) was alleged to have, between May and June 2025 in Nasarawa State, “instigated and instructed other Ardos and all Fulani youths in Nasarawa State, Kwara State, Taraba State, Giza, and other surrounding villages to carry out attack on Yelwata Community” on June 13, 2025, where at least 150 persons died.
The offence is said to be contrary to Section 26(2)(b) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable under the same Act.
