Nigerian prosecutors have filed 57 terrorism-related charges against nine men accused of orchestrating a deadly attack on Yelwata community in Benue State that left about 150 people dead in June 2025.
The charges were submitted on Monday at the Federal High Court in Abuja and relate to the June 13 assault in Guma district, one of the deadliest rural attacks recorded in recent years.
Benue lies in Nigeria’s volatile Middle Belt, a region long affected by recurring violence linked to land disputes, religion, and ethnic tensions, which authorities have struggled to contain.
According to court filings, the suspects allegedly held planning meetings, mobilized fighters, raised funds, and procured weapons across multiple states ahead of the attack.
Prosecutors say the alleged ringleader, Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono, coordinated activities from neighboring Nasarawa State, where funds were gathered, orders issued, and fighters recruited.
Some defendants are accused of supplying assault rifles, assisting the attackers, or providing locations used for planning. The attack reportedly involved the burning of homes and resulted in heavy civilian casualties.
The case comes amid heightened pressure on Nigeria to address worsening insecurity, as the country continues to face Islamist violence and mass kidnappings while engaging international partners to strengthen security efforts.
