DSS FILES CHARGES AGAINST TERROR SUSPECTS OVER BENUE ATTACKS

The Department of State Services (DSS) has brought charges against several individuals suspected of involvement in terrorist activities in Benue State. Six separate charges were filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, accusing the suspects of various crimes, including terrorism, possession of firearms without licenses, and concealing information about terrorist activities.

Nine suspects were apprehended through intelligence-led operations, and two of them, Haruna Adamu and Muhammad Abdullahi, were charged in court with four counts related to the Yelwata massacre. They allegedly concealed critical information about planned terrorist attacks, which could have prevented the attacks and apprehension of the perpetrators.

Other suspects, including Terkende Ashuwa and Amos Alede, were charged with conducting reprisal attacks against terror suspects involved in the Abinsi and Yelwata incidents. Halima Haliru Umar, a 32-year-old woman, was charged with concealing information about a suspected gun runner and aiding terrorism by transporting ammunition to bandits.

Two elderly men, Nanbol Tali and Timnan Manjo, were charged with illegal possession and trading of firearms, while Danjuma Antu and Silas Iduh Oloche were charged with unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. The cases are pending before the court, with no trial date scheduled yet.

The DSS’s actions demonstrate its commitment to tackling terrorism and related crimes in the country. The agency’s efforts to apprehend and prosecute suspects involved in terrorist activities are crucial in maintaining national security and preventing further attacks.