A team of federal medical pathologists has reportedly exhumed 105 bodies from mass graves in Yelwata community, Guma LGA of Benue state.
The exercise forms part of ongoing investigations into the June 13, 2025 attack that left dozens dead and many others displaced.
According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication covering the Lake Chad region, the forensic team was led by Saad Ahmed from the office of the attorney-general of the federation (OAGF).
The delegation reportedly arrived in Yelwata on February 23 alongside operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) from Abuja.
Makama, quoting sources, said the federal team collaborated with officials of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) during the operation.
The publication stated that 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.”
Earlier, this newspaper reported that the federal government arraigned nine suspects over their alleged roles in the Yelwata attack before Joyce Abdulmalik, judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
