‘How we arrested suspected terrorists involved in Yelwata attack’

By Taiye Agbaje

A prosecution witness, Moses Paul, has told the Federal High Court in Abuja how nine suspected terrorists involved in attack on Yelwata Community, Benue, on June 13, 2025, were arrested.

Paul, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) revealed this while giving his testimony at the resumed trial of the nine men accused of being involved in the Yelwata attack before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.

Paul, who is an investigator and member of the Intelligence Response Unit (IRU) of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) told the court that over 100 men armed with AK47, killed about 150 people in the Yelwata incident.

He also revealed how the attack on Yelwata was planned by some Fulani leaders (Ardos) in Nasarawa and Benue States over alleged killing of their cattle and children.

“The number of people that came for the attack in Yelwata were over 100 and they were wielding AK47.

“Investigation into the case is still ongoing. Any moment from now, we may still bring another set of people,” he said.

The nine suspects are Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono, Ardo Muhammadu Saidu, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, Yakubu Adamu, Alhaji Musa Mohammed, Abubakar Adamu, Shaibu Ibrahim, Sale Mohammed and Bako Jibrin.

Led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, the witness said the attack was carried out by Fulanis, who were on a retaliatory mission.

Paul said he knew all the defendants, because he participated in their arrest in three communities in Nasarawa State shortly after the attack.

“On the 13th of June 2025, we received a news of an attack in Yelwata in Benue. I was in Apa, in Benue State on a kidnapping case when we were drafted to immediately move to Yelwata town.

“We moved into the place on June 14 and gathered some information that led to the arrest of the defendants.

“Some of them were arrested in Kadalko (a border town between Benue and Nasarawa State), Ageregu (another border town) and Lafia in Nasarawa State,” the witness said.

Paul said investigation revealed that there was actually an attack which led to the killing of over 200 people, with many others injured and property destroyed.

He added: “We learnt over 200 people attacked Yelwata. The attack was initially planned for Dawudu village, they were repelled and the attackers went into Yelwata, killing over 200 people.

“Yelwata is like a meeting point for displaced people in other villages in Benue State. So, people who were taking refuge in Yelwata were also victims of the attack.”

The witness said he visited Yelwata and was there for almost a month in the course of the investigation.

On why it was only the nine defendants that were brought to court, the witness said they were arrested based on human intelligence gathered based on the investigation.

Paul told the court that the first person to be arrested was Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, who was in Ageregu village.

He said Abdullahi admitted during interrogation that he participated in a meeting that was held in the house of Alhaji Ardo Lawal Dono, in Nasarawa State, in which all the Ardos were in attendance, including Ardo Giza, Ardo Kwara and Ardo Giana.

The witness said the meeting dwelt on complaints about the way the Fulani were being treated in Benue, during which Abdullahi claimed that his cows and two of his children had been killed.

He said at the end of first meeting, Ardo Lawan, being the head of Ardos in Nasawa State, asked them to go and do what they thought will help them.

Paul said the second meeting was held at Ardo Mohammed Saidu’s (2nd defendant’s) house and agreed to contribute funds to execute the attack.

He added that Abdullahi admitted contributing N300,000 while another participant at the meeting contributed N200,000.

The witness told the court that Abdullahi also told him that Ardo Kadalko (Mohammed Saidu) said he lost about 250 of his cows and two of his children in a place very close to Yelwata.

On how the investigators confirmed that the meetings actually held, the witness said they were able to ascertain from the other defendants that the two meetings actually held and that plans for the attack were concluded at their meetings.

Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter until Friday for continuation of trial.

(NAN)