Nigeria Charges Nine Over 2025 Benue Massacre That Killed 150
Nine men face terrorism charges over the June 2025 raid on Yelwata village that killed around 150 people in Benue State.
- Nine men have been charged with 57 terrorism-related offences over the June 2025 raid
- The suspects, led by Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono, are accused of planning, mobilising fighters, and supplying weapons for the attack
- The case highlights ongoing security challenges in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, a region plagued by ethnic and communal violence
Nigerian prosecutors have filed 57 terrorism-related charges against nine men accused of carrying out a deadly attack on a farming community in Benue State in June 2025, which left approximately 150 people dead, court documents show.
The charges were lodged on Monday at the Federal High Court in Abuja and relate to a raid on Yelwata village in Guma district, one of the deadliest rural attacks in recent Nigerian history.
Benue, located in Nigeria’s volatile Middle Belt, has long experienced violence stemming from disputes over land, religion, and ethnicity between farming and pastoralist communities, with authorities struggling to contain recurring bloodshed.
Prosecutors allege that the suspects planned the attack through meetings, fundraising, weapons procurement, and fighter mobilisation across multiple states.
Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono is named as the alleged ringleader, accused of issuing orders, recruiting fighters, and coordinating logistics from neighbouring Nasarawa State.
Several defendants are also accused of supplying AK-47 rifles, aiding attackers, and providing locations used for planning. The June 13 raid reportedly involved the burning of homes and resulted in heavy civilian casualties.
Nigeria has faced growing pressure to improve security amid persistent Islamist attacks and mass kidnappings.
The issue drew international attention last year after the U.S. criticized Nigerian authorities for failing to protect vulnerable communities.
In December, U.S. forces conducted strikes on alleged terrorist targets, while Nigerian officials affirmed cooperation with Washington to strengthen security efforts.
