The Department of State Services, DSS, on Wednesday formally arraigned nine persons before a Federal High Court in Abuja over their alleged involvement in recent killings in Benue and Plateau states.
The nine, named as defendants in six separate charges, took turns to enter their pleas to the allegations raised against them, including unlawful possession and dealing in firearms, assisting in terrorism activities, among others.
Those arraigned are Terkende Ashuwa, 46, and Amos Alede, 44, named in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/448/2025; Haruna Adamu, 26, and Muhammed Abdullahi, 48, in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/449/2025; and Halima Haliru Usman, 32, in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/450/2025.
Others are Timna Manjo, 46, and Nanbol Tali, 75, in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/451/2025, Danjuma Antu, 62, in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/452/2025, and Silas Iduh Oloche, named in a six-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/453/2025.
Of the nine, only Manjo pleaded guilty to two of the four counts on which he was arraigned with Tali. He admitted guilt to counts one and three on the charge sheet.
According to counts to which he guilty:
“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 Ladi LGA, Plateau State, without licence, did engage in buying and selling of two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles at the rate of N3,000,000, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 9 of the Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act.
“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 resale, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 9 of the 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 LGA, Benue State, are alleged in a three-count charge to have attended a meeting connected to acts of terrorism at Couch Bar, Daudu village, in July.
They are also accused of “knowingly solicit or render support by receiving material assistance of locally made guns and an AK-47 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 LGA, 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 Ahmadu, 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.”
They 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 support acts of terrorism by providing material assistance and transporting 302 rounds of AK-47 live ammunition. She is also said to have had the ammunition in her possession on the same date.
Manjo and Tali, in a separate charge, are said to have, on August 9 at Barkin Ladi LGA, Plateau State, possessed a locally fabricated AK-47 rifle without a licence.
Manjo is also accused of engaging in the buying of three long-range revolver rifles at N60,000 each from one Chomo for resale, as well as buying two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles at N300,000 from one Vom, which he allegedly resold to an unidentified Reverend at N400,000.
In a five-count charge, Antu of Jos North, Plateau State, is alleged to have, on June 27, 2025 along Kabong Primary School, Jos North LGA, possessed three live rounds of 9mm ammunition without a licence. He is further accused of transporting pistols and ammunition in support of terrorism on the same date.
After the defendants entered their pleas, Justice Emeka Nwite ordered that they be remanded in DSS custody with access to their lawyers.
Justice Nwite adjourned the cases as follows: Ashuwa, Alede and Halima Umar to October 2; Adamu and Abdullahi to October 9; and Manjo, Tali, Antu and Oloche to October 17 for trial.
Also on Wednesday, the DSS filed a fresh five-count charge against suspected gunrunner Huzaifa Ahamad Haruna (aka Huzaifa Dogo), allegedly arrested with seven M16 assault rifles.
Part of the charge reads: “Huzaifa Ahamad Haruna (aka Huzaifa Dogo) of Dogo village, Barkin Ladi LGA, Plateau State, adult, male, sometime on 30th August 2025, at Barkin Ladi LGA and Mangu LGA of Plateau State, did knowingly render support for the commission of acts of terrorism by providing material assistance for and transportation of seven M-16 assault rifles with serial numbers: 0700422; 24006914; 00513011; 07000135; 24007165; 07000417; and 07000822, as well as seven empty magazines in a green Opel Vectra vehicle with Reg No. BSA-732-AE (Plateau), and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 13 (1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
“That you, Huzaifa Ahamad Haruna of Dogo village, Barkin Ladi LGA, Plateau State, adult, male, sometime in March 2025, at Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State, did knowingly render support for the commission of acts of terrorism by providing material assistance for and transportation of five M-16 assault rifles from Dogo village, Barkin Ladi LGA, to one Wakili Julde in Wase LGA, Plateau State, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 13 (1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
