Over 200 Armed Men Carried Out Yelwata Attack, Police Witness Tells Court
A prosecution witness in the trial of nine individuals charged 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, which reportedly claimed over 200 lives and destroyed properties worth millions of naira.
The first prosecution witness, Moses Paul, a team leader with the Intelligence Response Team of the Nigerian Police Force, made the disclosure while being led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo. He alleged that the attackers were commissioned and financed by disgruntled Fulani chiefs who held meetings and pooled resources to execute the operation.
Paul told the court that he was in Apa, Benue State, on the day of the incident when he received a distress call and was immediately directed to investigate. On arrival 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 arrested was Haruna Abdullahi, who was apprehended in Ageregu, Nasarawa State. During interrogation, Abdullahi allegedly confessed to attending meetings involving Fulani chiefs in Nasarawa State, beginning at the residence of one Ardo Lawal.
Counsel to the first defendant is Ibrahim Angulu.
The meetings, Paul testified, were convened to deliberate on what participants described as unfair treatment of Fulani people in Nasarawa and Benue States, including alleged killings of their cattle and some of their kinsmen. He further stated that Abdullahi allegedly confessed that the chiefs mobilised funds and hired armed men to carry out the attack.
The witness added that the original target of the assailants was said to be the Daudu community, but upon encountering resistance there, the attackers reportedly redirected their assault to Yelwata, where the killings occurred.
Earlier in the proceedings, the court declined a request by counsel to the first defendant to move motions challenging the court’s jurisdiction and seeking bail. Defence counsel had informed the court that the first defendant suffered a stroke while in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
Following the testimony, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned the case to February 27 for the continuation of the examination of the first prosecution witness.
