A prosecution witness in the trial of Nine suspects over the June 13, 2025 attack on Yelwata in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State has told the Court that more than 200 armed men wielding AK-47 rifles carried out the assault, allegedly at the instance of some Fulani chiefs.
The first prosecution witness, Moses Paul, a team leader with the Intelligence Response Team of the Nigerian Police Force, gave the testimony while being led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo.
Paul told the Court that the attackers were allegedly commissioned and funded by disgruntled Fulani chiefs who held meetings and pooled resources to execute the attack.
He testified that he was in Apa, Benue State, on the day of the incident when he received a distress call and was immediately assigned to investigate the incident. Upon arriving in Yelwata, he said his team commenced investigations which led to the arrest of the defendants in Kadarko, Ageregu, and parts of Nasarawa State.
According to the witness, the first defendant to be arrested was Haruna Abdullahi, apprehended in Ageregu, Nasarawa State.
The witness told the Court that Abdullahi, during interrogation, allegedly confessed to attending meetings involving Fulani chiefs in Nasarawa, beginning at the residence of one Ardo Lawal.
The meetings, he said, were convened to address what was described as alleged unfair treatment of Fulani people in Nasarawa and Benue States, including the killing of their cattle and some of their kinsmen.
Paul further testified that Abdullahi allegedly confessed that the chiefs mobilised funds and engaged armed men to carry out the attack.
He added that the initial target was said to be Daudu community, but upon encountering resistance there, the assailants reportedly diverted to Yelwata, where more than 200 people were killed and properties worth millions of Naira destroyed.
Earlier, the Court declined a request by counsel for the first defendant to move motions challenging the Court’s jurisdiction and seeking bail.
Defence counsel had informed the Court that the first defendant had suffered a stroke while in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik then adjourned the matter to February 27 for continuation of trial.
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
