Nigeria secures 386 convictions in mass terrorism trials

Crime Diary, Politics

ABUJA, Nigeria, 11 April 2026 (NPA) — The Federal Government has secured 386 convictions out of 508 cases in the ongoing mass trial of terrorism suspects.

The Attorney‑General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, confirmed the development on Friday, noting that of the 508 defendants brought before the Federal High Court in Abuja, two were acquitted while eight were discharged.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the trial commenced on Tuesday and resulted in sentences ranging from eight years to life imprisonment, depending on the severity of the charges.

Advertisement

Mr Fagbemi explained that a further batch of 112 suspects, whose cases could not be heard, will be arraigned alongside others in the next phase of the mass trial scheduled for 15–18 June. He stressed that the convictions send a clear message that Nigeria has zero tolerance for heinous crimes.

The Minister commended the ten judges who sacrificed their Easter holiday to sit as special courts for the proceedings. He also highlighted the presence of international organisations, including Amnesty International, as well as the Nigerian Bar Association, the National Human Rights Commission, and civil society groups, who observed the trials to ensure due process and transparency.

NAN reports that the exercise forms part of Phase Nine in a series of mass prosecutions aimed at tackling insecurity and bringing terrorism suspects to justice after prolonged detention. The Federal Government reiterated that prosecuting such cases is essential to weakening insurgent operations and restoring stability across the country.