A team of federal medical pathologists has reportedly exhumed 105 bodies from mass graves in Yelwata Community, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
The exhumation is part of investigations into the June 13, 2025, attack that left dozens dead and many displaced.
According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, the team, led by Saad Ahmed from the office of the attorney-general of the federation (OSGF), arrived in Yelwata on February 23 alongside operatives of the intelligence response team (IRT), Abuja.
Quoting sources, Makama said the delegation worked with officials of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
According to the publication, the “exhumation was conducted to facilitate forensic inquests and strengthen evidence in the ongoing prosecution of suspects linked to the killings.”
“Locations of the graves were identified on the same day under adequate security provided by the Benue State Police Command. The exhumation exercise commenced on Feb. 24, during which seven bodies were recovered,” Makama said.
“The team continued the exercise on Feb. 25 and Feb. 26, exhuming additional remains, bringing the total number of corpses recovered to 105 from 13 mass graves located in and around the Yelwata community. The exercise was concluded on Feb. 26.
“Seven corpses were initially exhumed by the IRT-led federal investigators for inquest. The exercise continued, and further development will be communicated.”
The federal government arraigned nine suspects over their alleged involvement in the Yelwata attack before Joyce Abdulmalik, judge of the federal high court in Abuja.
