The Nigerian government filed six separate cases, charging the nine defendants in pairs and singly with acts of terrorism, including attacks and killings in Benue State, and other sundry offences such as illegal possession of firearms.
The federal government, on Wednesday, arraigned nine terrorism in connection with attacks and killings in Benue State.
The suspects, arraigned before trial judge Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja, were linked to the 13 June attack in Yelwata in Guma Local Government Area of the state.
One of the accused pleaded guilty to some charges.
Some of the suspects in court
But the rest denied the charges, pleading not guilty.
All the defendants have been in the custody of the State Security Service (SSS) since their arrest at various locations.
On 28 August, the Nigerian government charged the nine persons in connection with the deadly attacks in Benue State.
Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) Muhammad Abubakar filed the six separate cases charging the nine defendants in pairs and singly with acts of terrorism, including attacks 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, One of the suspect, Timnan Manjo, 46, of the Baptist Church in Mangu LGA, Plateau State, who face four counts of buying and selling two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles without a licence for N3 million pleaded guilty to count one and three and not guilty to count two and four.
Details later……