Reported by Afilawos Magana Sur, investigative Journalist at Sele Media Africa.
Abuja, Nigeria — Nine men, including prominent pastoral leaders, are facing terrorism charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja over their alleged roles in the June 13, 2025, attack on Yelewata — a village in Benue State’s Guma Local Government Area that left scores dead and communities devastated. TruthNigeria +1 The prosecution has arraigned the defendants before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on a 57-count terrorism indictment under Nigeria’s Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, alleging that the suspects conspired to coordinate, fund and execute one of the deadliest attacks in the Middle Belt in recent years. Premium Times Nigeria among those charged is Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono, former head of a regional pastoral association in Nasarawa State, alongside Ardo Muhammadu Saidu, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, Yakubu Adamu, Musa Mohammed, Abubakar Adamu, Shaibu Ibrahim, Saleh Mohammed and Bako Jibrin. The defendants have pleaded not guilty and were remanded in the Kuje Correctional Centre pending trial. Premium Times NigeriaCourt Testimony Links Planning and Funding to Local LeadersIn testimony before the court, CSP Moses Paul of the Nigeria Police Force’s Intelligence Response Team described how more than 100 armed assailants equipped with AK-47 rifles stormed the Yelewata community, leaving numerous casualties and widespread destruction. The prosecution alleges the attack was planned during meetings convened in Nasarawa State between May and June 2025, with financial backing from aggrieved local chiefs who pooled resources to mobilize the assailants. Punch Newspapers Paul told the court he was dispatched to Yelewata following a distress call on the day of the massacre and that his team’s investigations led to the subsequent arrests in parts of Nasarawa State and neighbouring areas. Punch Newspapers disputed death Toll and Security context while government and court statements have varied on the exact number of fatalities — with some sources citing more than 150 deaths — local accounts and humanitarian reports from earlier investigations estimate that up to 270 villagers were killed in the coordinated assault that also razed homes and displaced hundreds. TruthNigeria +1 Security analysts and human rights advocates highlight Yelewata as a flashpoint within a broader pattern of communal violence across Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where competition over land, resources and cattle routes has repeatedly erupted into mass killings and reprisals involving herders and farming communities. Businessday NG broader implications and legal scrutiny the prosecution’s framing of the Yelewata assault as a terrorism offence marks a significant legal escalation and could set precedent in how Nigeria’s courts address mass violence linked to communal and pastoral disputes. Defence counsel has indicated intentions to vigorously contest the charges as proceedings continue with additional evidence expected in the coming months. Premium Times Nigeria as the trial unfolds, survivors and civil society groups continue to press for transparent justice and comprehensive security reforms to prevent reprisal attacks and support long-term reconciliation in affected regions. Businessday NG Sources:• TruthNigeria – “9 Fulani Leaders Face Terrorism Trial Over Yelewata Massacre That Killed 270” (March 2026) • Premium Times – “Yelwata Killings: Suspects deny terrorism charges in Abuja court” (Feb 2026) • Africa-Press – “Fulani chiefs funded Yelwata attack – Witness alleges” (Feb 2026) • PUNCH Nigeria – “Over 200 men wielding AK-47s stormed Yelwata – Police witness” (Feb 2026) • BusinessDay Nigeria – CAPPA condemnation and context on Benue violence (June 2025) TruthNigeria; Premium Times; NigeriaAfrica; Press English; Punch Newspapers; Businessday NG.
Afilawos Magana Sur is a journalist from Bogoro Local Government Area of Bauchi State, currently based in Bauchi metropolis. He is known for his commitment to accurate, ethical, and responsible journalism, with a focus on reporting issues of public relevance and community development.
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