Benue: Court remands nine over killing of 150

Fagbemi

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday remanded nine suspects accused of involvement in the Yelwata attack in Benue State, in which about 150 persons were killed.

The suspects pleaded not guilty to a 57-count amended charge bordering on terrorism when they were arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdul-Malik.

The arraignment followed the withdrawal of charges against the sixth defendant, Yakubu Mamman, by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).

The PUNCH reports that the Office of the AGF had earlier said the suspects, who were “strongly linked to the killings in Yelwata,” would be arraigned after what it described as painstaking investigations and inter-agency collaboration.

Fagbemi appeared in court alongside the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), for the prosecution.

Ibrahim Angulu (SAN), Christiana Sylvester and Aminu Abubakar Bagudu represented the 1st, 8th and 9th defendants, respectively, while A.I. Kaura appeared for the 2nd defendant. Adamu Abdullahi held brief for the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th and 10th defendants.

Fagbemi informed the court that the prosecution had filed a 57-count amended charge dated January 19, 2026, and filed on January 20, 2026, against 10 defendants. Punch