A senior police investigator has told the Federal High Court that over 100 armed terrorists invaded Yelwata in Benue State, killing more than 150 people in a coordinated attack allegedly funded and planned in Nasarawa State.
The Federal High Court on Wednesday heard chilling testimony on how more than 100 AK-47-wielding terrorists allegedly invaded communities in Yelwata, Benue State, razing homes, inflicting grievous injuries and killing over 150 people. A senior police investigator, who testified as the prosecution’s star witness, gave the account during the trial of nine defendants facing a 57-count charge bordering on terrorism.
The defendants — Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono, Ardo Muhammadu Saidu, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, Yakubu Adamu, Musa Mohammed, Abubakar Adamu, Shaibu Ibrahim, Saleh Mohammed and Bako Jibrin — are accused by the Federal Government of orchestrating and executing the June 13, 2025 attack. Testifying before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, Chief Superintendent of Police Moses Paul of the Intelligence Response Unit of the Nigeria Police Force said the accused were recruited and financed by disgruntled Fulani chiefs who allegedly held meetings between May and June 2025 in Nasarawa State to perfect plans for the assault.
Led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), the witness told the court that he was in Apa, Benue State, when he received a distress call and commenced investigation, leading to the arrest of suspects in Kadarko, Ageregu and parts of Nasarawa State. According to him, the first defendant confessed to attending meetings at the residence of Alhaji Ardo Lawal Dono, where grievances over alleged mistreatment of Fulani people were discussed, while a second meeting at the home of the second defendant culminated in an agreement to fund and execute the attack. He added that the attackers initially targeted the Dawudu community but diverted to Yelwata after encountering resistance.
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