A prosecution witness told the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday that some disgruntled Fulani chiefs allegedly sponsored more than 200 armed men wielding AK-47 rifles to carry out the June 13, 2025, attack on Yelwata in Guma Local Government Area.
The attack reportedly left more than 200 people dead and destroyed properties worth millions of naira.
The witness, Moses Paul, a team leader with the Intelligence Response Team of the Nigeria Police Force, testified in the trial of nine suspects charged in connection with the attack.
The suspects, who pleaded not guilty on Feb. 3, 2026, face 57 amended charges including terrorism under the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.
According to the prosecution, the defendants participated in meetings between May and June 2025 in Nasarawa State to plan an assault on Yelwata that led to the burning of homes, grievous bodily harm, and about 150 deaths.
The first through fifth and seventh through tenth defendants were remanded at the Kuje Correctional Facility pending trial.
Led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo, Paul said the attack was commissioned and funded by Fulani chiefs who pooled resources and mobilized armed men.
“I was in Apa, Benue State, when I received a distress call on the day of the incident and was immediately assigned to investigate,” Paul said. “Upon arriving in Yelwata, our team commenced investigations which led to the arrest of the defendants in Kadarko, Ageregu, and parts of Nasarawa State.”
Paul said the first defendant arrested, Haruna Abdullahi, confessed during interrogation to attending meetings with Fulani chiefs discussing alleged unfair treatment of Fulani in Benue and Nasarawa, including the killing of their cattle and kinsmen. The witness said the chiefs then mobilized funds and armed men to carry out the attack.
He added that the initial target was the Daudu community, but resistance there forced the attackers to redirect to Yelwata.
Earlier, the court declined a defense application for bail and a challenge to jurisdiction. Defense lawyer Ibrahim Angulu noted that the first defendant had suffered a stroke in custody, but Justice Joyce Abdulmalik denied the request.
The court adjourned the matter to Feb. 27 for continuation of the examination of the first prosecution witness.
