DSS arraigns nine over Benue, Plateau k!llings, gunrunning
The Department of State Services on Wednesday arraigned nine individuals at the Federal High Court in Abuja over their alleged roles in the recent wave of killings in Benue and Plateau states.
The agency also charged a suspected gunrunner found with seven M16 rifles.
Among those arraigned were Haruna Adamu and Muhammad Abdullahi, both from the Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
They face a four-count charge for their alleged involvement in the June 13 killings in Abinsi and Yelewata villages, Guma LGA of Benue State, alongside others still at large.
Two other defendants, Terkende Ashuwa and Amos Alede, both from Guma LGA, were arraigned on a three-count charge for alleged reprisal attacks in Ukpam village, which resulted in the destruction of property and the loss of 12 cattle.
In a related case, Halima Haliru Umar, 32, from Faskari LGA of Katsina State, was charged with four counts for allegedly concealing information about a suspected gunrunner and kidnapper, identified as Alhaji Sani.
The DSS also filed a six-count against Silas Iduh Oloche of Agatu LGA, Benue State, accusing him of unlawful possession of 18 firearms, including grenades, in violation of the Firearms Act.
Additionally, 75-year-old Nanbol Tali and Timnan Manjo, both natives of Plateau State, were arraigned for allegedly trading two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles worth N3 million without a licence.
Another suspect, 62-year-old Danjuma Antu from Jos North LGA of Plateau, faced a five-count charge for allegedly possessing two locally made pistols designed to fire 9mm rounds.
Meanwhile, out of the nine, only Manjo pleaded guilty to two out of the four counts contained in the charge on which he was arraigned with Tali.
Manjo pleaded guilty to counts one and three on the charge sheet.
The counts, two which Manjo pleaded guilty, reads, “That you, Timnan Manjo of First Baptist Church, Mangu LGA, Plateau State and Nanbol Tali of Cocin LCC, Heipang, Barkin ladi LGA, Plateau State, Adults, males, sometime between July and August, 2025, at Barkin Ladin LGA, Plateau State, without licence, did engage in buying and selling of two locally fabricated AK47 rifles at the rate of N3,000,000, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 9 of Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act.
“That you, Timnan Manjo of First Baptist Church, Mangu LGA, Plateau State, adult, male, sometime in July, 2025, at Mangu LGA, Plateau State, without licence, did engage in buying of three long-range revolver rifles at the rate of N60,000 each, from one Chomo, for resell, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 9 of Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act.”
Ashuwa of Ukpam village and Alede of Akawe Tokula Polytechnic (both of Guma Local Government Area of Benue State are alleged, in a three-count charge, to have, in July, attended at Couch Bar, Daudu village, a meeting in connection with acts of terrorism.
They were also accused of “knowingly solicit or render support by receiving material assistance of locally-made guns and AK47 rifle from one Alhaji Uba for the commissioning of acts of terrorism to wit: causing destruction to private property resulting in an economic loss of 12 cattle in Ukpam age, Benue State.”
Adamu of Kasono village and Abdullahi of Jangar Gare village, both in Awe Local Government Area, Nasarawa State are, in a four-count charge, said to have, on June 13 “participated in a meeting alongside Musa Beniyon, Bako Malowa, Ibrahim Tunga, Azara Ahmlnadu, Legu Musa, Adamu Yale, Boddi Ayuba and Pyeure Damina among others, which in your knowledge is concerned and connected to the commissioning of acts of terrorism and killings in Abinsi and Yelwata Villages, Guma LGA, Benue State.”
Adamu and Abdullahi are also accused of “knowingly conceal information about planned acts of terrorism and killings in Abinsi and Yelwata Villages, Guma LGA, Benue State between 13th and 14th June, 2025 , which you know to be of material assistance in apprehending and preventing the commissioning of acts of terrorism, but failed to disclose the information to any law enforcement or security officer.”
Mrs. Umar of Unguwan Boka, Faskari LGA, Katsina State, is alleged, in a four-count charge, to have on July 7 at Barkin Ladi LGA and Jos North LGA of Plateau State, attempted to render support for the commission of acts of terrorism by providing material assistance and transportation of 302 rounds of AK-47 rifle live ammunitions.
She is also said to have, on the same date, had in her possession 302 rounds of AK-47 rifle five ammunitions.
In a four-count charge, Manjo of First Baptist Church, Mangu LGA and Tali of Cocin LCC, Heipang, Barkin Ladi LGA, both of Plateau State, are said to have sometime in August 9 at Barkin Ladin LGA, Plateau State, had in their possession a locally fabricated AK-47 rifle without a licence.
Manjo is, in count three, accused of engaging in the buying of three long-range revolver rifles at the rate of N60,000) each, from one Chomo, for resell.
He was also said to have engaged in buying of two locally-fabricated AK-47 rifles at the rate of N300,000 from one Vom, which he allegedly “resold to an unidentified Reverend at the rate 400,000.”
In a five-count charge, Antu of Jos North, Plateau State is alleged to have, “sometime on 27th June, 2025, along Kabong Primary School, Jos North LGA, Plateau State, without licence, did have in your possession three live rounds of 9mm ammunition, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(1) of Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act.”
He is also alleged to have “sometime on 27th June, 2025, along Kabong Primary School, Jos North LGA, Plateau State, knowingly render material support for the commission of acts of terrorism in Plateau State, by transporting two locally fabricated pistols firearms capable of discharging 9mm ammunition calibre, three live rounds of 9mm ammunition and one five round of 8mm ammunition and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 13 (1) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
After the defendants pleaded to the charges, Justice Emeka Nwite ordered that they should be remanded in DSS custody and be granted access to their lawyers.
As it relates to the charges involving Ashuwa, Alede and Halima Umar, Justice Nwite adjourned till October 2 for trial.
He adjourned the charge involving Adamu and Abdullahi to October 9 for the commencement of trial, while the charges involving Manjo, Tali, Antu and Oloche till October 17 for trial.
The arraignment followed months of deadly assaults by armed assailants in Plateau and Benue States that have left hundreds dead and forced thousands to flee.
On June 13, gunmen launched coordinated attacks on Yelewata and Daudu communities in Guma LGA, Benue State, killing more than 200 people, including farmers and displaced persons.
In response, President Bola Tinubu ordered the arrest of the perpetrators during his visit to Benue, where he criticised security agencies for failing to apprehend the attackers.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, later announced that 28 suspects had been arrested in connection with the massacre.
