Over 200 killed in Yelwata attack; witness links Fulanis and premeditated meetings to massacre

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday heard new details about the June 13, 2025, attack on Yelwata Community in Benue State, where over 200 residents were killed. The first prosecution witness, CSP Moses Paul of the Intelligence Response Unit (IRU) of the Nigeria Police Force, testified that the assailants, numbering more than 100 and armed with AK47 rifles, were Fulanis on a retaliatory mission.

Paul said the attack had been initially planned for Dawudu village, but after being repelled, the attackers redirected to Yelwata, a settlement that had become a refuge for displaced 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.

The court heard that nine suspects, Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono, Ardo Muhammadu Saidu, Haruna Abdullahi, Yakubu Adamu, Musa Mohammed, Abubakar Adamu, Shaibu Ibrahim, Sale Mohammed, and Bako Jibrin, were arrested following intelligence operations in three Nasarawa State communities.

According to Paul, the arrests were aided by information about premeditated meetings held by the suspects, where they allegedly discussed grievances, contributed funds, and planned the attack.

During the investigation, one suspect admitted attending meetings at the homes of Ardo Lawal Dono and Ardo Mohammed Saidu, where participants, including several local Ardos, decided to carry out the massacre. Financial contributions were recorded, including N300,000 from one participant and N200,000 from another.

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Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned the trial to Friday for continuation. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities warning that additional arrests may follow as more evidence emerges.

The attack remains one of the deadliest incidents in the region, underscoring ongoing security challenges in Benue and surrounding areas.