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Nigerian authorities on Monday filed 57 terrorism related charges against nine men accused of planning and carrying out a deadly attack on the Yelwata community in Benue State that left about 150 people dead.
The charges were filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja and relate to a coordinated assault on June 13, 2025, in Yelwata, a rural settlement in Guma Local Government Area. Prosecutors say the attack was one of the deadliest episodes of violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt in recent years.
According to court filings, the suspects allegedly held multiple planning meetings, raised funds, acquired weapons, and mobilised fighters across several states ahead of the assault. Investigators said the operation involved careful coordination and logistical support spanning Benue and neighbouring Nasarawa State.
Prosecutors identified Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono as the alleged ringleader. Court documents say Dono and other defendants met in Nasarawa to collect money, issue instructions, and recruit fighters. Several of the accused are alleged to have supplied AK 47 rifles, provided safe locations for meetings, or assisted the attackers before and after the raid.
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The attack reportedly involved the burning of homes and widespread killings in Yelwata, forcing residents to flee and leaving large parts of the community destroyed. Security agencies say investigations linked the assault to broader patterns of organised violence in the region.
Benue State lies within Nigeria’s Middle Belt, an area long affected by deadly clashes driven by disputes over land, ethnic identity, and religion. Violence in the region has persisted for years despite repeated military operations and security deployments.
Nigeria has faced mounting international scrutiny over its handling of insecurity, particularly attacks affecting rural and Christian communities. Last year, United States President Donald Trump publicly criticised Nigerian authorities over what he described as failures to protect civilians. U.S. forces later carried out strikes on December 25 against targets Washington described as linked to extremist activity.
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Nigerian officials have said they are working closely with U.S. authorities and other international partners to improve intelligence sharing and strengthen security responses. The prosecution of the Yelwata suspects is seen by officials as part of broader efforts to hold perpetrators of mass violence accountable.
The nine defendants remain in custody as the case proceeds. The court has not yet set a trial date, but prosecutors say they are prepared to present extensive evidence detailing the planning and execution of the attack.
