COURT ADMITS AK-47, NAIRA NOTES AS EVIDENCE IN BENUE VILLAGE MASSACRE TRIAL

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday admitted an AK-47 rifle and several naira notes as exhibits in the ongoing trial of nine men linked to the June 13, 2025 attack on Yelwata village in Guma Local Government Area, which reportedly claimed about 150 lives.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik admitted the rifle as Exhibit A after the first prosecution witness, Moses Paul, a senior officer of the Nigeria Police Force, identified the firearm in court. The naira notes recovered alongside the weapon were admitted as Exhibits C1 to C5, while a ballistic report confirming the rifle’s functionality was admitted as Exhibit B.

The defendants – Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono, Ardo Muhammadu Saidu, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, Yakubu Adamu, Musa Mohammed, Abubakar Adamu, Shaibu Ibrahim, Sale Mohammed, and Bako Jibrin – are facing 57 counts of terrorism. They all pleaded not guilty.

During evidence-in-chief, Paul testified that the attack stemmed from disputes over enforcement of the Benue State anti-grazing law. He alleged that Abdullahi vowed revenge after cattle and children were killed and that Saidu purchased the AK-47 for N1 million to participate in the attack.

Investigations revealed that community leaders, including some defendants, met in Nasarawa State to plan and fund the coordinated assault. Abdullahi reportedly contributed N300,000 while Musa Mohammed provided N200,000. Saidu allegedly led the attack alongside five of his children, who remain at large, and admitted to killing eight people personally.

Paul displayed the AK-47 in court, noting that naira notes were placed inside the rifle as part of the attackers’ beliefs. The weapon and notes were admitted into evidence despite some defence reservations. The ballistic report confirming the rifle’s recent use was also admitted after objections from defence counsel were overruled.

The witness further implicated Musa Mohammed and Shaibu Ibrahim in planning meetings, highlighting their financial and organizational roles. He noted that police action could have been more effective had the defendants cooperated.

Following this, the prosecution sought to tender statements allegedly made by the defendants during police investigations. Defence lawyers objected, claiming the statements were obtained under duress and without legal representation.

Justice Abdulmalik ordered a trial-within-trial to determine the admissibility of these statements and adjourned proceedings to March 13. Defence counsel had earlier accused police of repeatedly intimidating the defendants in custody, a claim the prosecution denied. The judge emphasized that any directive on the allegations would require concrete evidence from correctional authorities.

This development marks a key stage in the prosecution of suspects accused of orchestrating one of Benue State’s deadliest attacks in recent years.