Nigerian govt to arraign more suspects linked to Benue killings

The federal government will on Monday arraign suspects linked to the recent killings in Yelwata, Benue.

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This is contained in a statement issued by the Senior Assistant to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice on Communication and Publicity, Kamarudeen Ogundele.

He said the suspects will be arraigned before Joyce Abdul-Malik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday.

The statement noted that the AGF, Lateef Fagbemi, assured Nigerians that justice will be ensured in the matter to send a strong signal to the enemies of the country, acting under any guise.

“This comes after a painstaking investigation and collaboration by government agencies.

“The administration of President Bola Tinubu is committed to the protection of lives and property of all as enshrined in the constitution,” Mr Ogundele said.

The names of the suspects to be arraigned were not provided.

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But the move to arraign them comes five months after the AGF office arraigned nine terrorism suspects linked to the 13 June 2025 attack in Yelwata in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.

They were arraigned before trial judge Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The then-Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) Muhammad Abubakar filed six separate cases against the nine defendants in pairs and singly on 28 August 2025, charging them with acts of terrorism, including attack and killings in Benue State and other sundry offences such as illegal possession of firearms.

The charges also include planning and being part of preparation for acts of terrorism, carrying out reprisals and illegal buying and selling of firearms.

During the arraignment on 3 September 2025, one of the accused persons, Timnan Manjo, 46, pleaded guilty to two out of four charges preferred against him and a co-defendant. Mr Manjo denied the two other counts.

Mr Manjo, who is from Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, pleaded guilty to Count 1, which accused him of buying and selling between July and August 2025 two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles for N3 million.

The defendant also pleaded guilty to Count 3, which accused him of buying three long-range revolvers at the rate of N60,000 per one, from one Chomo, for resale.

The authorities accused him of carrying out the arms transactions without a licence.

But Mr Manjo denied the two other charges, including Count 2, which alleged that he was found to be in unlawful possession of a locally fabricated AK-47 rifle on 9 August in Barkin Ladi LGA, Plateau State.

He also denied Count 4, which accused him of buying two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles from one Vom and reselling them “to an undisclosed Reverend” at the rate of N400,000. He allegedly committed the offence in January 2025.

Meanwhile, Mr Manjo’s co-defendant in the case, Nanbol Tali, 75, denied all charges featuring his name.

Also, the rest of seven defendants denied all the charges preferred against them.

READ ALSO: UPDATED: Nigerian govt arraigns nine terrorism suspects over Benue attacks, killings, one pleads guilty

They include Halima Haliru Umar, a 32-year-old woman, who was arraigned on charges of transporting ammunition and concealing information. She is the only female among the defendants.

The other men, six in all – Haruna Adamu, Muhammad Abdullahi, Terkende Ashuwa, Amos Alede, Danjuma Antu, and Silas Iduh Oloche – were arraigned on terrorism-related charges.

All the defendants, who were said to hail from Katsina, Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau states, have been in custody of the State Security Service (SSS) in Abuja since their arrest at various locations.

(NAN)