Court Remands Nine as DSS Opens Terrorism, Gunrunning Trial in Abuja
The Department of State Services (DSS) on Wednesday arraigned nine individuals before the Federal High Court in Abuja over their alleged involvement in recent killings in Benue and Plateau states, as well as illegal arms dealing.
The suspects, drawn from Nasarawa, Benue, Plateau, and Katsina states, face multiple charges ranging from terrorism to unlawful possession of firearms. One of them was accused of gunrunning involving seven M16 rifles.
Those arraigned included Haruna Adamu and Muhammad Abdullahi, both from Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. They face a four-count charge connected to the June 13 killings in Abinsi and Yelewata villages, Guma LGA of Benue State.
Also before the court were Terkende Ashuwa and Amos Alede, both of Guma LGA, accused in a three-count charge of staging reprisal attacks in Ukpam village that led to the destruction of property and the loss of 12 cattle.
In a related matter, Halima Haliru Umar, 32, from Katsina State, was charged with four counts for allegedly concealing information about a gunrunner and kidnapper identified as Alhaji Sani.
She was further accused of attempting to provide material assistance and transporting 302 rounds of AK-47 ammunition.
The DSS also arraigned Silas Iduh Oloche of Agatu LGA, Benue State, on a six-count charge for unlawful possession of 18 firearms, including grenades, contrary to the Firearms Act.
Two elderly defendants, 75-year-old Nanbol Tali and 62-year-old Timnan Manjo, both from Plateau State, were charged with trading in locally fabricated AK-47 rifles worth N3 million without a licence. Manjo pleaded guilty to two of the four counts on the charge sheet.
The counts read in part: “That you, Timnan Manjo of First Baptist Church, Mangu LGA, Plateau State and Nanbol Tali of Cocin LCC, Heipang, Barkin Ladi LGA, Plateau State, Adults, males, sometime between July and August, 2025, at Barkin Ladin LGA, Plateau State, without licence, did engage in buying and selling of two locally fabricated AK47 rifles at the rate of N3,000,000, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 9 of Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act.”
“That you, Timnan Manjo of First Baptist Church, Mangu LGA, Plateau State, adult, male, sometime in July, 2025, at Mangu LGA, Plateau State, without licence, did engage in buying of three long-range revolver rifles at the rate of N60,000 each, from one Chomo, for resell, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 9 of Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act.”
Another suspect, Danjuma Antu of Jos North, Plateau State, faced a five-count charge for unlawful possession of pistols and ammunition, and for allegedly rendering material support for acts of terrorism in Plateau State.
After the charges were read, Justice Emeka Nwite ordered that all defendants be remanded in DSS custody with access to their lawyers.
The court fixed October 2 for the trial of Ashuwa, Alede, and Umar; October 9 for Adamu and Abdullahi; and October 17 for Manjo, Tali, Antu, and Oloche.
The arraignment comes after months of violent assaults in Plateau and Benue states that left hundreds dead and displaced thousands.
On June 13, gunmen attacked Yelewata and Daudu communities in Benue, killing more than 200 people, an incident that drew strong condemnation from President Bola Tinubu.
Punch
