The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered the remand of nine suspected terrorists in Kuje Correctional Centre over their alleged involvement in the June 13, 2025, attack on Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, which left about 150 people dead and several homes destroyed.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik gave the remand order while adjourning the case to February 26 and 27 for trial, following the suspects’ plea of not guilty to a 57-count amended charge of terrorism-related offences.
The Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who led the prosecution, requested that the court set a trial date to present evidence against the defendants.
“In line with Section 273 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), the plea of not guilty triggers the court’s jurisdiction for trial. I am requesting an accelerated hearing and that the defendants be remanded pending trial,” Mr. Fagbemi told the court.
When asked about the number of witnesses, the AGF confirmed that the prosecution would call approximately eight individuals to testify.
The defence, led by Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, representing the first, eighth, and ninth defendants, requested to move an oral bail application, citing a prior filing earlier in the day. Justice Abdulmalik, however, denied the request, instructing the defence to submit a formal bail application instead.
The suspects, who were apprehended through coordinated security operations including the State Security Service, DSS, 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.
During proceedings, Fagbemi informed the court of amendments to the original charges, including the removal of Yakubu Mamah as the sixth defendant.
The court approved the changes, striking out the initial charge filed in September 2025 and substituting it with the amended 57-count charge filed in January 2026.
The charges allege that the defendants and others, between May and June 2025, met in Nasarawa State to plan and coordinate the attack on Yelwata.
Count 25 specifically accuses Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono of instigating and instructing Fulani youths across several states to carry out the assault, resulting in mass casualties and destruction. The offences contravene the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
