The Federal Government has arraigned nine suspects over their alleged involvement in the deadly attack on Yelwata community in Benue State.

The suspects were brought before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday.

At the start of proceedings, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), informed the court that a 57-count amended charge had been filed against the defendants. The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/471/2025, was filed on January 20, 2026.

Fagbemi applied for the name of one defendant, Yakubu Mamman, to be struck out from the amended charge, leaving nine defendants to take their plea. The application was not opposed by defence counsel, including Ibrahim Angulu, A. I. Kaura and Adamu Abdullah.

Justice Abdulmalik subsequently struck out Mamman’s name and also quashed the earlier charge filed on September 10, 2025, which had listed eight defendants.

All nine defendants present in court pleaded not guilty to the 57-count amended charge.

Those arraigned are Ardo Lawal Mohammed, Muhammadu Saidu, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, Yakubu Adamu, Muhammed Musa, Abubakar Adamu, Shaibu Ibrahim, Saleh Mohammed and Bako Jibrin.