Nigeria official said the mass convictions show Nigeria has zero tolerance for serious crime, adding that jailing 386 terrorists would act as a strong deterrent….reports Africa Newsdesk
Nigeria’s Federal Government has secured 386 convictions from 508 terrorism cases heard during a mass trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi confirmed to journalists on Friday that of the 508 defendants brought before the court, two were acquitted and eight were discharged. The trial began on Tuesday, with convicted defendants receiving sentences ranging from eight years to life imprisonment, depending on the severity of charges against them.
Some 112 suspects whose cases could not be completed during this phase will be arraigned in the next round of proceedings, scheduled for June 15 to 18.
Fagbemi said the mass convictions send a clear message that Nigeria has zero tolerance for serious crime, adding that imprisoning 386 terrorists would serve as a strong deterrent to would-be criminals.
The minister also praised the ten judges who gave up their Easter holiday to sit as special courts to handle the high volume of cases.
International and domestic observers — including Amnesty International, the Nigerian Bar Association, the National Human Rights Commission, and several civil society organisations — monitored the proceedings to ensure transparency and due process were upheld.
The trials form part of Phase Nine in a series of mass prosecutions aimed at tackling insecurity and bringing long-detained terrorism suspects to justice. The Federal Government maintained that prosecuting these cases is critical to weakening insurgent networks and restoring stability across the country.
Those convicted received sentences ranging from five years to life imprisonment, having been linked to Boko Haram or its rival splinter group, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
The mass trial comes as Nigeria’s government faces growing pressure to address a worsening security crisis in Africa’s most populous country. Security forces are stretched across multiple fronts, confronting militant Islamist groups, separatist movements, and kidnapping-for-ransom gangs that continue to threaten lives and stability across the nation.
