Yelwata Killings: Trial Halted As Defendant Collapses In Court

March 24, 2026 | News

Trial of Yelwata Killings Suspects Adjourned After Defendant Collapses in Court

Proceedings in the trial of suspects linked to the 2025 Yelwata killings were abruptly halted on Tuesday after one of the defendants slumped in court.

The incident occurred when the third defendant, Haruna Abdullahi, suddenly collapsed shortly after he and the other accused persons were brought into the courtroom around 10 a.m. Despite efforts by prison officials to revive him, he remained unresponsive.

When the case was later called, the presiding judge, Joyce Abdulmalik, ruled that the defendant could not be considered present for the proceedings.

The Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo, informed the court that prison authorities had earlier confirmed the defendant was in stable condition before his arrival.

Counsel to the third defendant, Ahmed Muhammad, urged the court to grant an adjournment to allow for urgent medical attention, noting that the defendant had walked into the courtroom before collapsing. Another defence lawyer, Ibrahim Angulu, also appealed on humanitarian grounds, stressing the need to prioritise the defendant’s health.

Following the submissions, the court granted the request for adjournment to enable proper medical care. The case has now been adjourned to March 30 for continuation of hearing, with the court directing that hearing notices be served on absent defence counsel.

The nine defendants are standing trial over the Yelwata attack in Benue State, which reportedly claimed about 150 lives. They face a 57-count charge bordering on terrorism and have all pleaded not guilty.

Earlier, the court had ordered their remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the conclusion of the trial.