The Federal Government has formally arraigned nine individuals on multiple terrorism-related charges in connection with the June 2025 attack on Yelwata community in Benue State, which claimed the lives of at least 150 people.

The defendants, including Lawal Mohammed Dono, Muhammadu Saidu, Haruna Abdullahi, and six others, appeared before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik and pleaded not guilty to all 57 counts contained in the amended charge sheet.

The charges, brought under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, include conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism, recruitment and mobilization of fighters, procurement and supply of weapons, financing terrorism, and aiding and abetting terrorist activities.

Prosecutors, led by Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), allege that the accused coordinated, financed, and directed the assault on Yelwata.

They are further accused of instigating and instructing Fulani youths from Nasarawa, Kwara, and Taraba States, as well as from Giza and surrounding villages in Nasarawa State, to carry out the attack.

The defendants reportedly procured the services of armed Fulani men from those locations to participate in the raid, which resulted in over 150 deaths and widespread destruction of homes and property in the community.

In addition to the terrorism counts, some of the suspects face separate charges under the Firearms Act for unlawful possession of prohibited firearms and ammunition.

During the proceedings, the court struck out the name of the sixth defendant from the original 10-person charge sheet following an application by the Attorney General.

The case has been adjourned for further hearing, with all nine defendants remanded in custody.

Details of the trial are expected to emerge as proceedings continue.

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 47-year-old Nigeria businessman based in Brazil, Uche Franklin Onyekwere, for attempting to smuggle 1.60 kilograms of cocaine into the country concealed in his private parts and the soles of his footwear.

The arrest occurred on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at the arrival hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos, during the inward clearance of passengers from a South African Airways flight originating in Brazil via Johannesburg.

The operation was based on processed intelligence. Following a full body scan that indicated concealment, a strip search revealed a large parcel of white powdery substance later confirmed as cocaine wrapped around the suspect’s right thigh.

Two additional wraps of the same substance were discovered hidden in the soles of his flat shoes.

In a preliminary interview, Onyekwere, who resides in Rua Ever, Mulariuha, São Paulo, and has lived in Brazil since 2008, stated he purchased the drugs in Brazil intending to resell them in Nigeria to raise capital for his toy business and to fund the naming ceremony for his newborn child.

The seizure forms part of a broader week of intense anti-drug operations by the NDLEA across several states, resulting in the recovery of over 9,939 kilograms of various cannabis strains including Loud, Colorado (Colos), and Skunk along with other illicit substances.

At the Tincan seaport in Lagos, officers on Wednesday, January 28, discovered 1,183 kilograms of Canadian Loud cannabis hidden inside two vehicles (a Hyundai SUV and a Toyota Matrix) within a container imported from Montreal, Canada.

In Niger State, operatives intercepted a truck along the Dei-Dei Abuja expressway on Tuesday, January 26, arresting Andy Chidogu (49), Kenneth Ogene (45), and Sadiq Olanrewaju (27). The vehicle contained 176 bags of skunk (2,735kg) and 1kg of Colorado concealed among a legitimate flour load originating from Lagos and rerouted via Edo State for a N1.7 million transport fee.

In Edo State, NDLEA teams arrested Shaibu Yusuf on January 27 while he sought transport for 66 bags of skunk (792kg) hidden in charcoal bags bound for Katsina. On January 28, a joint raid with Nigerian Army personnel at Ebora camp, Ilushi, in Esan South East LGA destroyed 4,063.675kg of skunk on a 1.6-hectare farm, recovering 328kg of processed cannabis and seeds.

Four suspects Jeremiah Nwodeh (46), Chukwudi Pius (33), Pius Ogaba (46), and Onora Kwene (35) were arrested.

In Anambra, a cement truck intercepted at Upper Iweka, Onitsha, on January 28 concealed 345.2kg of skunk belonging to Abum Okeke (42), one of three occupants arrested.

Additional seizures included 473kg of skunk from Tunde Ogundele (39) and Soji Elegbelye (46) in Eleyewo community, Akure North, Ondo State, on January 26. In Kano, Abdullahi Usman (45) was nabbed with 12,500 ampoules of pentazocine injection on the same day, while Musa Shuaibu (42) yielded 4,390 tramadol pills on January 27.

Other arrests featured Oragwan Ekene with 15.5kg skunk in Lagos on January 30, and Omang Peter Edward with 3.5kg skunk hidden in a sound system and cereal packets at Seme border from Benin Republic on January 27.

The NDLEA also continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization efforts, delivering lectures at schools across Yobe, Abia, Enugu, Lagos, Katsina, Oyo, and other states.

NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers from the MMIA, Tincan, Niger, Lagos, Edo, Anambra, Ondo, and Kano commands for their professionalism and urged sustained balanced efforts in supply and demand reduction.

The statement was issued by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media & Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, on Sunday, February 1, 2026.

Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru has taken decisive action against leaders of Amasiri Community in Afikpo Local Government Area following a brutal attack on neighboring Okporojo Community in Oso Edda, Edda Local Government Area.

The governor announced the immediate suspension and sacking of all political appointees from Amasiri including commissioners, management committee members, and other officials serving in his administration as well as the withdrawal of certificates of recognition from traditional rulers, the dissolution of the Amasiri Town Development Union and its executives, and the removal of all village heads.

The measures were declared during Nwifuru’s visit to the devastated Okporojo Community on Sunday, where he was accompanied by security chiefs. He described the violence as “barbaric” and “pushed me to the wall,” vowing that perpetrators would be arrested and prosecuted.

The attack, which occurred on Thursday, January 29, 2026, left at least four people dead, including several who were beheaded, with reports of an elderly woman among the victims and others missing or abducted.

Several houses were set ablaze, displacing families and leaving the community in mourning. Survivors, including one woman who was shot at twice but escaped, recounted the horror of the assault.

Authorities have linked the killings to a long-standing land dispute between the two neighboring communities, a conflict that has simmered for decades and periodically erupted into violence, claiming lives and destroying property.

During his visit, grieving families wept openly, pleading for justice and an end to the cycle of bloodshed.

Residents of Okporojo called on the state government to enforce lasting peace and prevent further attacks.Governor Nwifuru assured the affected community of full support and directed security agencies to conduct thorough investigations to bring those responsible to book.

The incident has heightened tensions in the area, with calls from locals for stronger intervention to resolve the underlying boundary and land issues once and for all.

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