The federal government, on Monday, amended the charge against nine suspected terrorists who allegedly attacked Yelwata in Benue, where about 150 persons were killed.
The attorney general of the federation, Lateef Fagbemi, who led the federal government’s team of lawyers to court, told Justice Joyce Abdulmalik that a 57th amended count had been filed against the defendants.
Mr Fagbemi informed the court that, although 10 defendants were earlier listed in the amended charge, he sought the court’s order striking out the name of the 6th defendant, Yakubu Mamman.
And the defence lawyers, including Ibrahim Angulu, A. I. Kaura and Adamu Abdullahi, did not oppose AGF’s application, and Mr Mamman’s name was struck out from the charge.
Mr Fagbemi also applied that the initial charge dated September 9, 2025, but filed September 10, 2025, listing eight defendants, be substituted for the amended charge dated January 19, but filed January 20, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/471/2025.
After the defence did not object to the application, the judge struck out the earlier charge. The AGF then applied that the 57 counts be read to the defendants so they could enter their pleas.
The suspected terrorists were alleged to have carried out the attack on June 13, 2025, where many houses were burnt down, and about 150 people were massacred, while others sustained various degrees of injuries.
The nine suspects include Ardo Lawal Mohammed, Muhammadu Saidu, Haruna Abdullahi, Yakubu Adamu, Muhammed Musa, Abubakar Adamu, Shaibu Ibrahim, Saleh Mohammed, and Bako Jibrin.
The 57 counts are currently being read to the defendants.
(NAN)