Tension and controversy filled the courtroom after shocking revelations emerged in a high-profile security case involving a Benue youth leader accused of stockpiling dangerous weapons amid the lingering farmers-herders crisis.
A witness from the Department of State Services (DSS) stunned the Federal High Court in Abuja with explosive testimony, alleging that a community youth leader from Benue State was caught with a disturbing cache of grenades and live ammunition allegedly intended for a retaliatory mission.
The accused, identified as Silas Oloche, said to be a youth leader in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State, is currently standing trial over allegations bordering on illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
During the court session, a DSS operative, identified only by the codename “XX,” appeared as the prosecution’s first witness and narrated how Oloche was reportedly arrested on August 2, 2025, in Ogbasi community, Agatu LGA.
According to the witness, security operatives allegedly recovered a frightening collection of weapons from the suspect, including 18 hand grenades, hundreds of rounds of live ammunition, and shotgun cartridges. The court heard that authorities later transferred him from the DSS office in Benue to the agency’s national headquarters in Abuja for further investigation.
In another dramatic twist, the DSS witness claimed the defendant allegedly admitted during interrogation to purchasing the ammunition from an individual identified as “Chocho” for over ₦2 million. It was further stated that Oloche gave his statement in the presence of a legal representative and reportedly requested assistance in documenting his confession because he could not write.
The courtroom reportedly became even more intense when the prosecution presented an audio-visual recording of the interrogation as evidence. During the playback, Oloche allegedly opened up about years of violence and bloodshed in Agatu communities, blaming repeated attacks by suspected Fulani herders for escalating tensions in the area.
In the recorded statement played openly in court, the defendant reportedly described himself as the youth leader of Agatu and traced the violent conflict back to 2013. He claimed the crisis stemmed from repeated invasions of farmlands, destruction of crops, and attacks on local communities.
Oloche also spoke about several peace meetings allegedly organised with government officials, traditional rulers, security operatives, and Fulani representatives across Benue, Kogi, and Nasarawa states. However, he reportedly claimed that agreements reached during those meetings were repeatedly ignored, while residents continued to suffer losses caused by grazing cattle.
As the trial continues, many Nigerians are closely watching the case, with heated reactions already surfacing online over the deepening insecurity concerns and the growing frustration surrounding the prolonged conflict in affected communities.
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