The Nigerian government says suspected attackers coordinated funds, weapons and fighters across multiple states ahead of the June 2025 assault on Yelwata community in Benue State that left between 150 and 200 people dead.
Federal prosecutors on Monday filed 57 terrorism-related charges against nine men alleged to have planned and executed the attack, one of the deadliest massacres in the country in recent years. The charges were presented before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi.
According to the amended charge sheet, the suspects held planning meetings, raised cash, procured firearms and mobilised fighters from different states in the weeks leading up to the June 13 attack on Yelwata, a farming community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
Prosecutors identified Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono as the alleged ringleader, saying he and other defendants met in neighbouring Nasarawa State to coordinate logistics, issue orders and recruit fighters. Several of the accused are alleged to have supplied AK-47 rifles, provided operational support, or offered locations for planning meetings.
The defendants named in the case are Ardo Lawal Mohammed, Muhammadu Saidu, Haruna Abdullahi, Yakubu Adamu, Muhammed Musa, Abubakar Adamu, Shaibu Ibrahim, Saleh Mohammed, and Bako Jibrin.
The government said the attack involved armed assailants storming Yelwata, burning homes and killing scores of residents, including internally displaced people who had fled earlier violence in the region. Hundreds of others were forced to flee.
The massacre sparked nationwide outrage and protests, prompting intensified security operations in Benue State and renewed pressure on authorities to address persistent rural violence. Security agencies later announced multiple arrests connected to the killings.
In the aftermath of the attack, President Bola Tinubu visited Benue State and directed security agencies to track down and prosecute those responsible.
During the visit, the Tor Tiv and chair of the Benue Traditional Rulers Council, James Ayatse, told the president: “What we are dealing with in Benue is a well-calculated, well-planned, full-scale genocidal invasion and land-grabbing campaign by herder terrorists and bandits.”
The Yelwata attack, amongst others in Plateau state helped draw intense international scrutiny of killings in Nigeria, especially those targeting Christian communities, including United States’ President Donald Trump designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern.
In court on Monday, Mr Fagbemi informed the judge that although ten defendants were initially listed, the prosecution applied to strike out the name of Yakubu Mamman, a request that was not opposed by defence lawyers. The court also struck out earlier charges filed in September 2025 and substituted them with the amended charges filed on January 20, now marked FHC/ABJ/CR/471/2025.
The judge ordered that the 57 counts be read to the defendants for their plea.
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