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A prosecution witness in the trial of nine suspects accused of perpetrating the June 13, 2025, attack on Yelwata in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, which reportedly left over 200 people dead and properties worth millions destroyed, has told the court that more than 200 armed men wielding AK-47 rifles carried out the assault.
News Central’s reporter, Joshua Imarayi, reports that the first prosecution witness, Moses Paul, a team leader with the Intelligence Response Team of the Nigerian Police Force, gave his 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. Upon arriving in Yelwata, he said his team commenced investigations which led to the arrest of the defendants in Kadarko, Ageregu, and Nasarawa State.
According to him, the first defendant to be arrested was Haruna Abdullahi, apprehended in Ageregu, Nasarawa State. He told the court that Abdullahi, during interrogation, 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 the alleged unfair treatment of Fulani in Nasarawa and Benue States, including the killing of their cattle and some of their kinsmen.
The witness further stated 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 the attack was carried out.
Earlier, 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 had suffered a stroke while in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
After the testimony, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned proceedings to February 27 for continuation of the examination of the first prosecution witness.
