₦airaland Forum

The Department of State Services, DSS, on Thursday filed charges at the Federal High Court, Abuja, against nine suspects allegedly linked to the recent deadly attacks on Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, and parts of Plateau State, News360 Nigeria reports.

The attacks left more than 40 people dead, many others injured, and hundreds displaced in both states.

The massacre in Yelwata prompted a visit by President Bola Tinubu, during which he urged the people of Benue to learn to live in peace. He also charged security agents to fish out the killers.

According to the charge sheet before the court, the suspects appeared to have been arrested across ethnic and religious lines.

The document stated that one Haruna Adamu, Muhammad Abdullahi of Awe LGA, Nasarawa State, and others still at large, had on June 13, 2025, allegedly carried out attacks against the people of Abinsi and Yelwata villages.

The offence, the DSS said, is contrary to and punishable under Section 12 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.

The two accused persons were said to have conspired with Musa Beniyon, Bako Malowa, Ibrahim Tunga, Asara Ahnadu, Legu Musa, Adamu Yale, Boddi Ayuba, Pyeure Damina and others still at large to carry out the Yelwata attacks.

In the charge sheet marked THC/ABJ/CR/449/2025, filed on behalf of the Federal Government by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Muhammad Abubakar, the two defendants were accused of engaging in conduct in preparation to commit terrorism. They allegedly acted jointly with others for the commission of the terror act in Abinsi and Yelwata.

This, the Federal Government stated, is contrary to Section 29 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.

In another case, two other suspects, Terkende Ashuwa and Amos Alede of Guma LGA, Benue State, were charged with three counts of allegedly carrying out reprisal attacks against suspects involved in the Abinsi and Yelwata incidents.

In the charge sheet marked FHC/ABJ/CR/448/2025, the two were accused of attending and participating in a meeting which led “to the commissioning of acts of terrorism, causing destruction to private property resulting in the economic loss of 12 cattle in Ukpam village, Benue State.” The Director of Public Prosecution said this is contrary to Section 12 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.

In count two, they were alleged to have, in July 2025, at a meeting in Daudu town, Guma LGA, conspired with others still at large to carry out terrorist acts, contrary to Section 26 of the Act.

In count three, the DSS accused them of knowingly rendering support and receiving material assistance in the form of locally made guns and AK-47 rifles from one Alhaji Uba for the commission of terrorism that led to the destruction of private property and loss of 12 cattle in Ukpam village, contrary to Section 13 of the Act.

In a separate charge, a 32-year-old woman, Halima Haliru Umar of Faskari LGA, Katsina State, was charged with four counts of terrorism, including transporting, in July 2025, 302 rounds of AK-47 live ammunition to bandits, which the Service said contravened Section 13 of the Act.

She was also charged with concealing information about one Alhaji Sani, a suspected gun runner, bandit, and kidnapper. According to the DSS, the information would have led to Sani’s arrest and the prevention of terrorism. The DSS said her action contravened Section 6 of the Act.

Relatedly, a 75-year-old man, Nanbol Tali, and another, Timnan Manjo, were charged with four counts of allegedly buying and selling two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles without licence for N3 million. According to the DSS, the offence is contrary to Section 9 of the Act and punishable under Section 27 of the Firearms Act, 2024.

They were also accused of possessing a locally fabricated AK-47 rifle in Manju LGA of Plateau State, and of buying three long-range revolvers at N60,000 each from one Chomo to resell to bandits.

In another charge, one Danjuma Antu of Jos North LGA, Plateau State, was arraigned on five counts of unlawful possession of two locally fabricated pistols capable of discharging 9mm calibre ammunition. The DSS said this contravenes Section 3 of the Firearms Act, 2024, and is punishable under Section 27.

The DSS also filed a six-count charge against one Silas Iduh Oloche of Agatu LGA, Benue State, for unlawful possession of 18 grenades without licence, which the Service said is contrary to Section 3 and punishable under Section 27 of the Firearms Act.

Oloche was said to have been arrested on August 2, 2025, with 683 live rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, contrary to Section 8 of the Act.

Meanwhile, no date has been fixed for the trial of the suspects.

Infoguy666:
https://news360ng.com/dss-drags-suspects-to-court-over-deadly-benue-plateau-attacks/

Saao:
The only one that pained me in all of these is the arrest of Oloche from agate, im very sure, he owned that gun to protect himself knowing how they were attacked in that axis. We must look for how to get license gun so we can protect ourselves

SonOfWords:


When the Nigerian government begins to do media trial of "supposed criminals", it is primarily for the purpose of hoodwinking Nigerians.

They'll keep flying to the press, while adjourning the case until the public loses interest, then quietly release the criminals back to their homes because the government itself is complicit in these Benue killings.

They're only doing this skelewu dance because the Yelwata killings attracted more global attention than they expected.

Every sane person knows Benue, Plateau and Nasarawa states are currently being attacked because someone wants to deplete our National food supply, just so they can craftily introduce GMO seeds.

Make DSS getawt!