Yelwata Killings: Court Remands Nine Suspects in Kuje, Fixes Dates for Trial

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the remand of nine suspects arrested in connection with the Yelwata killings in Benue State at the Kuje Correctional Centre, pending the commencement of their trial.
The order followed a request by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, who urged the court to grant an accelerated hearing of the case.

Leading the prosecution during the arraignment, the AGF prayed the court to remand the defendants in a correctional facility pending the start of trial proceedings.
Counsel to the 1st, 8th and 9th defendants, Ibrahim Angulu, made an oral application for bail. However, the court directed that all necessary processes be formally filed to support the bail request. This came after the AGF applied for the charge against the 6th defendant, Yakubu Mamman, to be struck out, noting that eight witnesses were already prepared to testify.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter to February 26 and 27 for trial.
It would be recalled that in June 2025, gunmen attacked Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, killing about 150 residents, while hundreds sustained injuries and were displaced.