On 2 February 2026, a Federal High Court in Abuja arraigned nine individuals accused of involvement in a deadly attack on the Yelwata community in Benue State that occurred on 13 June 2025, resulting in the deaths of about 150 residents.
The prosecution, led by Nigeria’s Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, filed an amended 57-count charge of alleged terrorism offences against the suspects under cause FHC/ABJ/CR/471/2025, replacing an earlier charge from September 2025.
Defence lawyers did not oppose the amendment, and the court struck out the name of one defendant previously listed, leaving nine to face the charges. All nine pleaded not guilty to the charges, which outline coordinated planning and execution of the violent assault — including the burning of homes and
mass casualties — in north-central Nigeria’s volatile Middle Belt region.
Following the arraignment, the court ordered the suspects remanded in custody as their bail applications are considered and adjourned the matter for further hearing later in February 2026. The case underscores ongoing efforts by Nigerian authorities to pursue legal accountability for one of the most lethal community attacks in recent years amid broader security challenges in the country.