The Federal Government has detailed in court how the June 13, 2025, attack on Yelwata in Benue State was planned and financed. In a 57-count amended charge, prosecutors allege that one of the ten suspects, Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono, solicited cash contributions from fellow community leaders and kinsmen across Nasarawa and other states to fund the attack and offered to supply weapons.
The assault resulted in approximately 150 deaths, destroyed property, and grievous injuries. The suspects pleaded not guilty and have been remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre ahead of their trial, set for February 26, 2026.
Key Points:
The charges provide a rare official glimpse into the logistical and financial networks behind large-scale communal violence, framing it as terrorism.
The case represents a significant test of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, in prosecuting inter-communal attacks.
For victims and affected communities, the trial is a critical step toward accountability and justice for the devastating loss of life and property.
The high-profile prosecution, led personally by the Attorney-General, signals federal intent to confront and legally challenge the perpetrators of such violence.
The outcome could set a major legal precedent for handling similar episodes of mass violence and allegations of cross-border mobilization in Nigeria.
The commencement of the trial will be closely watched as a measure of the judicial system’s capacity to deliver justice in complex cases of mass atrocity.
Sources: Leadership Newspaper, Vanguard
