Camillus Ebo
Abuja, February 2 (Reuters) – Nigerian prosecutors on Monday filed 57 terrorism-related charges against nine men accused of launching a deadly attack on the Yelwata community in central Nigeria’s Benue state in June 2025 that killed about 150 people.
Benue lies in Nigeria’s restive central belt, the fault line between the Muslim north and the Christian south. Years of violence over land, religion and ethnicity have proven difficult for authorities to contain.
The charges filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja allege that the defendants held planning meetings, raised funds, procured weapons and mobilized armed personnel from multiple states before the June 13 attack, one of the deadliest rural attacks in years.
The document said ringleader Aldo Lawal Mohammed Dono and others met in neighboring Nasarawa state to raise cash, issue orders and recruit fighters. Several defendants are accused of providing AK-47 rifles, aiding the gunmen or providing safe locations for planning activities.
Prosecutors said the raid burned down houses in Yelwata, Benueguma district and caused heavy casualties.
Nigeria, plagued by Islamist attacks and mass kidnappings, has been under pressure to restore security since U.S. President Donald Trump last year accused the country of failing to protect Christians. On December 25, U.S. forces struck what they said were terrorist targets. Nigerian authorities said they were working with Washington to improve security.
(Reporting by Camillus Eboh; Writing by Elisha Bala-Gbogbo; Editing by William Maclean)