Nigerian prosecutors have charged nine individuals with terrorism-related offences over the June 2025 massacre in Yelwata, Benue State, one of the deadliest attacks in the country in recent years.
At least 150 people were killed on 13 June when armed assailants, wielding AK-47 rifles, stormed the Yelwata community in central Nigeria. The attackers reportedly torched homes and targeted civilians who were attempting to flee or seek shelter, with some victims burned alive. Many others sustained serious injuries.
On Monday, the Federal High Court in Abuja filed 57 counts of terrorism against the nine suspects, whom authorities say were directly linked to the attack.
Court documents allege that the suspects—led by Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono—held multiple meetings over several months to plan the assault. Prosecutors say the group raised funds, recruited gunmen, and coordinated logistics ahead of the massacre.
The prosecution further claims that the suspects solicited financial support from community leaders in neighbouring Nasarawa State, where several of the planning meetings were allegedly held.
The case marks a significant step in the government’s efforts to prosecute those responsible for mass violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt
