DSS recovered grenades, ammunition from Benue Youth Leader – Witness tells court

The Federal High Court in Abuja has heard how Silas Oloche, a Benue community youth leader allegedly mobilised ammunition for a planned retaliation against Fulani herders following recurring attacks in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.

The revelations emerged during the trial of the accused person who is facing 6 count charges bordering on alleged unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.

At the commencement of proceedings, the Department of State Services (DSS) operative codenamed XX, who testified as the prosecution’s first witness, told the court that Oloche was arrested on August 2, 2025, in Ogbasi, Agatu LGA, allegedly in possession of 18 hand grenades, 683 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammunition, 62 rounds of 7.62 x 51mm ammunition, and 136 live rounds of shotgun ammunition.

The witness, attached to the DSS Security Investigation Department, said the defendant was subsequently transferred from the Benue state command to the DSS National Headquarters in Abuja for further investigation.

According to the witness, Oloche was interviewed in the presence of a Legal Aid counsel and allegedly confessed to purchasing the ammunition from a man identified as “Chocho” for over N2 million.

The operative further told the court that the defendant volunteered a written statement and consented to the him writing it on his behalf because he could not write.

The court admitted the investigation report, the defendant’s written statement, the recovered ammunition and grenades, as well as an audio-visual recording of the interrogation into evidence.

During the open court playback of the video recording of the defendant’s extra-judicial statement, the defendant narrated years of violent attacks on Agatu communities by Fulani herders.

In the video, Oloche identified himself as the youth leader of Agatu and said the crisis dated back to 2013, arising from repeated attacks on farmlands and communities.

He recounted a series of meetings allegedly involving government officials, traditional rulers, security agencies, and Fulani representatives in Kogi, Benue, and Nasarawa states aimed at resolving the conflict.

According to him, agreements reached for the herders to vacate occupied farmlands were repeatedly ignored, while crops continued to be destroyed by cattle.

The defendant in the video, stated that frustration grew within the community following what he described as repeated attacks and lack of government intervention.

He told the investigator in the video that he led a mobilization to gather funds to purchase ammunition after allegedly receiving information that Fulani groups were prepared for confrontation.

Oloche admitted obtaining ammunition and keeping it in his house but claimed they had not yet acquired guns before security operatives arrested him.

He further stated that the community intended to retaliate against attacks but could not proceed because they lacked sufficient ammunition and firearms.

According to him, he was given money by displaced villagers and grieving families after retrieving bodies from attacked communities.

He also alleged that repeated appeals were made to authorities without intervention, which he said fuelled anger and thoughts of retaliation within the community.

At the end of the playback, the prosecution tendered the defendant’s extra-judicial statement.

However, defence counsel Noah Imoni objected to its admissibility, arguing that the statement was not voluntarily obtained.

The defence alleged that the defendant was beaten, tortured, and traumatised during interrogation, while also questioning the role of the Legal Aid lawyer present during the interview.

In response, the prosecution urged the court to conduct a trial-within-trial to determine whether the statement was voluntarily made.

The trial judge, Justice Joyce Abdumaliki subsequently ordered a trial-within-trial.

Earlier in the proceedings, the defence had urged the court to vary the defendant’s bail conditions, arguing that the requirement for two sureties resident within the Federal Capital Territory with fully developed properties in Abuja metropolis was too stringent.

The prosecution opposed the application, insisting that the nature of the allegations and proof of evidence before the court justified the existing conditions.

The court reserved ruling on the bail variation application to a date to be communicated later.

The court fixed July 8, for commencement of trial within trial and continuation of trial.