Benue killings: Court admits exhibits in trial of ethnic militias

Weeks aft the Federal High Court successful Abuja began the prosecution of suspected members of Fulani and Idoma militias linked to ethic killings successful Benue State, the tribunal has admitted successful grounds a study of the Department of State Services (DSS) connected however definite Agatu leaders successful Benue State allegedly stockpiled grenades and ammunition for planned retaliatory attacks connected Fulani cattle herders.

On March 31, Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono, Ardo Muhammadu Saidu, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, and Yakubu Adamu, were among the 9 members of a suspected Fulani militia arraigned connected 57-counts of coercion and causing the massacre of implicit 100 persons successful Yelwata, Guma LGA of the state.

At the resumption of trial, speech the DSS report, the tribunal besides admitted successful evidence, grenades and a cache ammunition, arsenic good arsenic an audio-visual signaling of the interrogation of 1 of the suspects. 

The suspect, Silas Oloche, identified arsenic an Agatu younker leader, is facing a 6-count complaint bordering connected alleged unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.

At the opening of proceedings, a DSS operative who testified arsenic the prosecution’s archetypal witness, told the tribunal that Oloche was arrested connected August 2, 2025, successful Ogbasi, Agatu LGA, allegedly successful possession of 18 manus grenades, 683 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammunition, 62 rounds of 7.62 x ...