BREAKING: Drama as suspect behind Yelwata massacre in Benue collapses in court

The trial of nine suspected terrorists accused of carrying out the deadly attack on Yelwata Community in Benue State on June 13, 2025, which claimed about 150 lives, was stalled on Tuesday after one of the defendants suddenly collapsed in open court.

The suspects are being prosecuted by the Federal Government through the Department of State Services (DSS) before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

During proceedings, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, informed the court that the trial—scheduled as a “trial within trial”—had to be halted because the third defendant, who appeared in court on his own, developed severe health complications while in the courtroom.

Oyedepo emphasized that the Federal Government is not persecuting the defendants but is prosecuting them over their alleged involvement in the Yelwata killings in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State. He added that the defendant must be medically fit to participate in the trial.

Ahmed Mohammad, counsel to the third defendant, explained that his client’s health deteriorated while in court, leading to his collapse. He requested an adjournment to allow the defendant to receive medical treatment at any hospital in Abuja.

Counsel to the first defendant, Ibrahim Angulu, SAN, did not oppose the request on humanitarian grounds, and Oyedepo also did not object to the adjournment to enable treatment at the Nigerian Correctional Service medical facility.

Following the submissions, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the case to March 30 and 31, 2026, for the continuation of the trial and ordered that hearing notices be served on all defendants.

The suspects, arraigned on a 57-count amended charge of terrorism-related offences, pleaded not guilty to all counts. They are accused of carrying out the attack in which homes were burned, around 150 people were killed, and many others were injured.

The nine defendants are Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono, Ardo Muhammadu Saidu, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, Yakubu Adamu, Alhaji Musa Mohammed, Abubakar Adamu, Shaibu Ibrahim, Sale Mohammed, and Bako Jibrin.

According to the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/471/2025, the defendants, along with others still at large, allegedly participated in meetings between May and June 2025 in Nasarawa State, in preparation for acts of terrorism. They are accused of planning and executing the attack on Yelwata Community in Guma Local Government Area on June 13, 2025, resulting in mass casualties, destruction of property, and grievous bodily harm. The offence is punishable under Section 12(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

In count 25, the first defendant, Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono, is further accused of instigating and directing other Ardos and Fulani youths across Nasarawa, Kwara, Taraba, Giza, and surrounding villages to attack Yelwata Community on the same date. This offence falls under Section 26(2)(b) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and is punishable under the same legislation.