The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday admitted an AK‑47 rifle and several naira notes as exhibits in the ongoing terrorism trial of nine men accused of orchestrating the June 13, 2025 attack on Yelwata village, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik admitted the rifle, identified in court by prosecution witness Moses Paul, a senior officer of the Police Intelligence Response Unit, as Exhibit A. The naira notes concealed within the weapon were marked Exhibits C1 to C5, while a ballistic report confirming the rifle’s functionality was admitted as Exhibit B.
The Federal Government had earlier arraigned the defendants on 57 counts of terrorism over the assault, which reportedly claimed more than 150 lives and displaced thousands. The accused persons — Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono, Ardo Muhammadu Saidu, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, Yakubu Adamu, Musa Mohammed, Abubakar Adamu, Shaibu Ibrahim, Sale Mohammed and Bako Jibrin — all pleaded not guilty.
Testimony from the prosecution linked the attack to disputes arising from enforcement of Benue State’s anti‑grazing law. The witness alleged that community leaders, including the defendants, held meetings in Nasarawa State to plan and finance the assault, with contributions ranging from ₦200,000 to ₦300,000. He further claimed that Saidu confessed to participating in the attack with five of his children, admitting to killing eight people.
The court also admitted the ballistic report despite objections from defence counsel, who argued it required certification as a public document. Justice Abdulmalik ruled that the report was admissible, being an original document submitted during investigation.
Proceedings were adjourned to March 13 for a trial‑within‑trial to determine the admissibility of defendants’ statements, following defence objections that they were obtained under duress.
The Yelwata massacre, which left over 100 dead and displaced more than 3,000 residents, has drawn widespread condemnation from rights groups, religious leaders and national authorities, with calls for justice and stronger security measures in Benue State.
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