- The Federal Government says it has secured 1,721 terrorism-related convictions since 2017
- The military also reported killing 1,597 terrorists in the first half of 2026
- Police announced major arrests, rescues and weapons recoveries nationwide
The Federal Government says it has recorded 1,721 convictions in terrorism and related criminal cases since launching its mass terrorism trial programme in October 2017.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the update was provided on Thursday in Abuja by the Director of Legal Services at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Zakari Mijinyawa, during a joint briefing by security, defence and law enforcement agencies.
EDITOR’S PICK
- UN Mobilizes Humanitarian Aid For Venezuela Following Twin Earthquakes
- Dollar To Naira Exchange Rate Today, June 26, 2026
- Concerns As Repentant Boko Haram Members Allegedly Join Army Recruitment
Mijinyawa explained that the initiative, coordinated by ONSA in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Judiciary, security agencies and international partners, has completed 10 phases of terrorism trials aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s criminal justice system while ensuring fair trial standards.
He said the programme is not solely focused on securing convictions, noting that defendants against whom prosecutors failed to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt were either discharged or acquitted in line with the law.
According to him, the first three phases of the trials, held between 2017 and 2018 at Wawa Cantonment in Kainji, resulted in 366 convictions, alongside 882 discharges, five acquittals and 61 pending cases.
The programme resumed in 2023 with its fourth phase, which produced 14 convictions. Phases Five and Six, conducted in 2024, secured 351 convictions, including cases involving terrorism financing, international crimes and sexual and gender based violence. During the same period, eight defendants were discharged, while three others were referred for medical or mental health assessment.
He added that Phases Seven and Eight in 2025 led to 125 additional convictions.
Mijinyawa disclosed that the biggest breakthrough came in 2026 during Phases Nine and Ten at the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, where 865 convictions were secured. The two phases also recorded 28 discharges, one acquittal and 224 adjourned cases.
He noted that the 865 convictions obtained this year account for more than half of all terrorism related convictions since the programme began and exceed the combined total recorded between 2017 and 2025.
The ONSA official reaffirmed the government’s commitment to prosecuting terrorism offences while protecting the constitutional rights of every defendant.
At the same briefing, the Defence Headquarters said military operations carried out between January and June 2026 resulted in the elimination of 1,597 terrorists and other criminal elements, while 1,516 kidnapped victims were rescued nationwide.
Speaking through the Director of Defence Information, Group Captain Kabiru Ali, Major General Samaila Uba said troops conducted 14,221 operations across several states, including Borno, Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger, Benue, Plateau and Katsina.
He said the operations led to the recovery of 451 firearms, 16,726 rounds of ammunition, and 161 explosive devices, significantly reducing the operational strength of criminal groups.
The military also reported killing 412 Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters, arresting 332 suspected terrorists, rescuing 261 abducted victims from terrorist hideouts and receiving the surrender of 132 insurgents.
Uba added that troops safely destroyed 31 improvised explosive devices during the period and expanded community engagement through peacebuilding activities, public awareness campaigns and meetings with traditional and religious leaders.
He reaffirmed the Armed Forces’ resolve to sustain operations against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, separatist violence and oil theft, while urging Nigerians to continue providing credible intelligence to security agencies.
Also speaking, Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu, said the Nigeria Police Force recorded major successes against organised crime during the first half of 2026.
He disclosed that the Force Intelligence Department’s Intelligence Response Team arrested 50 suspects linked to terrorism, kidnapping and armed robbery, while recovering 17 rifles, an anti aircraft launcher and 111 rounds of ammunition.
According to him, police also dismantled a 33 member criminal syndicate involved in terrorism, cattle rustling and violent attacks in Kwara State, arrested suspects connected to the killing of three police officers in Taraba State, and rescued a kidnapped woman and her 12 year old twin sons during a separate operation.
Iniedu further revealed that improved border surveillance led to the interception of 181 rounds of ammunition along the Abuja Kaduna highway, while police also uncovered a railway vandalism syndicate and recovered about 60 tonnes of stolen railway materials valued at approximately ₦400 million.
FURTHER READING
