Nigeria secures 742 terrorism convictions, acquits 888, says ONSA

Between 2017 and 2024, Nigeria secured 742 terror convictions and acquitted 888 suspects due to insufficient evidence, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has said.

The Coordinator of National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), ONSA, Maj-Gen Adamu Laka, disclosed this, yesterday, in Abuja, at a briefing on the Kanji trials and other terrorism-related issues.

With Laka to address the briefing were the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) of the Federation, Mohammed Babadoko and the Director of Legal, ONSA, Zakari Mijinyawa.

Laka, who stated that Nigeria “is now more experienced in handling terrorism cases,” explained that 1,722 cases were disposed of in phases one to six of the terrorism trials.

According to him, the terrorists received various sentences, ranging from life to terms of between 65 and 75 years, while others got capital punishment, depending on the severity of their crimes.

He said the development demonstrated the President Bola Tinubu regime’s commitment to human rights, noting that the administration tried 550 suspects and convicted 327 in one year, while the previous administration handled 500 suspects over eight years.

“So, you can imagine by the end of the first term of this administration, we would have cleared, maybe, three or four times the number that was done in eight years of the last administration. I think Nigerians need to know how committed this administration is to human rights,” he stated.

The director explained that since 2017, about 1,722 cases were disposed of, 742 convictions secured, 888 acquitted and 92 adjourned. Babadoko stated that this achievement was made in collaboration with relevant stakeholders and sector actors to ensure accountability for crimes committed by individuals across the country.

“The Legal Aid Council, the police, the correctional service and the Federal High Court came together to ensure the prosecution of suspects arrested at the front lines in the North East, South East or North Central.

“At the first phase of the trial, 282 cases were disposed of, 50 of which resulted in convictions, 203 discharged for want of evidence, and 28 adjourned to Abuja for continuation of trial in 2017. In the second phase, 804 cases were disposed of, with 203 convictions and 582 discharges for lack of evidence,” he said.

In the third phase between July 9 and 12 2018, The Guardian gathered that 224 cases were disposed of, with 113 convictions, 97 discharges for lack of evidence, five acquittals, and nine adjournments.

The fourth phase in December 2023 reportedly listed 25 cases and recorded 14 convictions. There were also fifth and sixth phases.