Witness Links Fulani Chiefs to Deadly 2025 Benue Attack, Court Hears

A prosecution witness testified on Thursday before the Federal High Court in Abuja that some disgruntled Fulani chiefs sponsored over 200 armed men to attack Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State on June 13, 2025.

The attack reportedly resulted in more than 200 deaths and the destruction of properties worth millions of naira.

The witness, Moses Paul, a team leader with the Intelligence Response Team of the Nigeria Police Force, gave the testimony during the trial of nine suspects accused of involvement in the attack.

The defendants had pleaded not guilty on February 3, 2026, to 57 amended charges bordering on terrorism.

Led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, Paul told the court that the attackers were commissioned and funded by Fulani chiefs who held meetings and pooled resources to execute the assault.

He said he was in Apa, Benue State, when he received a distress call on the day of the incident and was immediately assigned to investigate.

“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.

According to him, the first suspect arrested was Haruna Abdullahi, apprehended in Ageregu, Nasarawa State. During interrogation, Abdullahi allegedly confessed to attending meetings involving Fulani chiefs in Nasarawa.

The witness said the meetings were convened to address alleged unfair treatment of Fulani in Benue and Nasarawa, including the killing of their cattle and some of their kinsmen.

Paul further testified that the chiefs mobilised funds and engaged armed men to carry out the attack. He added that the initial target was the Daudu community, but upon encountering resistance, the assailants diverted to Yelwata.

In count one of the charge, the defendants are accused of participating in meetings between May and June 2025 in Nasarawa State to plan the attack, which led to the burning of houses, grievous bodily harm, and the death of about 150 persons—contrary to Section 12(a) of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.

The 1st to 5th and 7th to 10th defendants have been remanded at the Kuje Correctional Facility pending trial.

Earlier, the court declined an application by the first defendant’s counsel, Ibrahim Angulu, seeking to challenge jurisdiction and request bail. Angulu argued that his client suffered a stroke while in custody, but Justice Joyce Abdulmalik refused the request.

The court adjourned the matter to February 27 for continuation of the examination of the first prosecution witness.